cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Combined Activity of Sulfamethoxazole, Trimethoprim, and Polymyxin B Against Gram-Negative Bacilli

Abstract The activity of the three two-drug combinations of sulfamethoxazole (SMX), trimethoprim (TMP), and polymyxin B (PB) against 52 clinical isolates of gram-negative bacilli was studied by a “checkerboard” agar dilution method. The organisms studied included strains of Enterobacter spp., Klebsiella pneumoniae, Serratia marcescens, Providence, Proteus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The majority of these isolates were resistant to at least two of the three agents used in the combined studies and to the most commonly used antimicrobials. The TMP-PB combination demonstrated enhanced activity more frequently than the other two-drug combinations, showing synergism or addition in 85% of the combined studies; indifference or antagonism was also observed least frequently with TMP-PB. The great majority (83%) of Enterobacter-Klebsiella-Serratia isolates were susceptible to enhanced activity of all combinations. Proteus-Providence isolates were frequently susceptible (63%), but combined activity was indifferent or antagonistic against 60% of P. aeruginosa. Twelve isolates were selected for “killing-curve” assays in which an inoculum was incubated with SMX, TMP, and PB individually and in various two- and three-drug combinations. Surviving bacteria were counted at timed intervals over 24 h of incubation. The triple combination (SMX-TMP-PB) was synergistic against 9 of 12 isolates, whereas TMP-PB and SMX-PB showed synergism against 5 and 3 isolates, respectively. These data suggest that, although TMP-PB will often show enhanced activity against the gram-negative bacilli studied here, optimal antibacterial activity will be demonstrated when the three-drug combination is used.
Computed Tomographic Reconstruction of Beam Profiles with a Multi-Wire Chamber

MEDUSA (MEdical Dose Uniformity SAmpler), a 16 plane multi-wire proportional chamber, has been built to accurately measure beam profiles. The large number of planes allows for reconstruction of highly detailed beam intensity structures by means of Fourier convolution reconstruction techniques. This instrument is being used for verification and tuning of the Bevalac radiotherapy beams, but has potential applications in many beam profile monitoring situations.
Development and validation of the Dyspnea Index (DI): a severity index for upper airway-related dyspnea.

Objectives To (1) develop and validate the Dyspnea Index (DI); (2) quantify severity of symptoms in upper airway dyspnea; and (3) validate the DI as an outcome measure. Study Design Survey development and validation. Methods Three hundred sixty-nine participants were recruited for different phases of the study. Two hundred participants with chief complaints of dyspnea were given a 41-item questionnaire addressing common symptoms of dyspnea related to the upper airway. The questions were then reduced based on principal component analysis (PCA) and internal consistency resulting in a 10-item questionnaire. Cognitive interviews were conducted with 15 participants. Test-retest reliability and discriminant validity were measured from 51 participants. The DI was further validated by administering the index to 57 healthy controls (HC). Validation of the DI as a treatment outcome tool occurred with 46 participants' pre- and post-treatment scores. Results PCA revealed that only a single factor was being measured in both the original 41- and 10-item questionnaires. Additional cognitive interviewing suggested that no modification was needed to the DI. Test-retest reliability was r = 0.83. Discriminant validity was r = 0.62. The Mann-Whitney test demonstrated significant differences between healthy/symptomatic participants. Scores from the HC cohort resulted in a mean of 3.12 (SEM = 0.484; SD = 3.65) for the normative values. Conclusions The DI is an effective and efficient instrument to quantify patients' symptoms of upper airway dyspnea. It is a statistically robust index, with significant reliability and validity, and can be dependably used as a treatment outcome measure.
Bug juice: harvesting electricity with microorganisms

It is well established that some reduced fermentation products or microbially reduced artificial mediators can abiotically react with electrodes to yield a small electrical current. This type of metabolism does not typically result in an efficient conversion of organic compounds to electricity because only some metabolic end products will react with electrodes, and the microorganisms only incompletely oxidize their organic fuels. A new form of microbial respiration has recently been discovered in which microorganisms conserve energy to support growth by oxidizing organic compounds to carbon dioxide with direct quantitative electron transfer to electrodes. These organisms, termed electricigens, offer the possibility of efficiently converting organic compounds into electricity in self-sustaining systems with long-term stability.
Ventilator-associated pneumonia: present understanding and ongoing debates

Introduction: Ventila- tor-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a common cause of nosocomial infec- tion, and is related to significant utilization of health-care resources. In the past decade, new data have emerged about VAP epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment and prevention. Results: Classifying VAP strictly based on time since hospitalization (early- and late-onset VAP) can potentially result in undertreatment of drug-resistant organisms in ICUs with a high rate of drug resistance, and overtreatment for patients not infec- ted with resistant pathogens. A combined strategy incorporating diagnostic scoring systems, such as the Clinical Pulmonary Infection Score (CPIS), and either a quantita- tive or qualitative microbiological specimen, plus serial measurement of biomarkers, leads to responsible antimicrobial stewardship. The newly proposed ventilator-associated events (VAE) surveillance definition, endorsed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has low sen- sitivity and specificity for diagnosing VAP and the ability to prevent VAE is uncertain, making it a questionable surrogate for the quality of ICU care. The use of adjunctive aerosolized antibiotic treatment can provide high pulmonary concentrations of the drug and may facilitate shorter durations of therapy for multi-drug-resistant pathogens. A group of preventive strategies grouped as a 'ventilator bundle' can decrease VAP rates, but not to zero, and several recent studies show that there are potential barriers to implementation of these prevention
Some dynamical aspects of atmospheric convection

Some dynamical characteristics of atmospheric convection are investigated by obtaining an analytical solution for a most simplified set of difference equations which represent a two-layer model of an incompressible buoyant fluid. Several invariants are obtained as a function of initial values of vertical and horizontal potential temperature differences and kinetic energy. Then the analytical solution is obtained in using these invariants. One of the major advantages of using such a simplified model is to make it possible to discuss the nonlinear processes based on an analytical solution. The major disadvantage is caused by the low resolution in the space derivatives (time derivatives are exact). However, invariant quantities obtained for this simple model are equivalent to those obtained for the original differential equations, so that the important characteristics of convection are probably described in the present simplified model. Major results obtained from the model are presented. DOI: 10.1111/j.2153-3490.1967.tb01458.x
A NEW APPROACH TO TEACHING EVOLUTION

Review of: The Tangled Bank: An Introduction to Evolution. Zimmer, C. 2009. Roberts & Company, Greenwood Village, Colorado, 394 pp. $59.95, ISBN 9780981519470. Those of us who teach evolution at the college level have never had many textbook options. The selection usually has come down to whether we were looking for an encyclopedic or a less comprehensive and detailed text, based on what we have felt our students were able to handle. In the last few years the options have grown. It is now possible to choose among numerous textbooks, including ones that take an inquiry-based approach and ones that emphasize molecular and developmental biology. All do a fine job at unifying the complex, diverse, and rapidly expanding field of evolutionary biology. All of them, however, have been geared toward undergraduate biology majors and/or graduate-level courses. There is now a new option: The Tangled Bank: An Introduction to Evolution, by Carl Zimmer, The New York Times columnist and blogger. We assume that this book is intended for a nonmajors college evolution class. (Oddly, unlike the vast majority of texts, there is no initial introduction pointing to what Zimmer and his publishers envision as the appropriate audience, and laying out its overall approach and features. The publisher's and Zimmer' s own websites state that this book is "intended for
National Interest Frames and Public Opinion about World Affairs

This study used an experiment to examine whether—and if so, how—national interest frames in media coverage influence public opinion about world affairs. Compared to participants in a control condit...
High-order THz bandpass filters achieved by multilayer complementary metamaterial structures

The concept of a high-order, broadband THz bandpass filter is realized by a complementary, multi-layer metamaterial structure. A bandpass filter was designed, fabricated, and tested over a continuous range of frequencies up to 0.7 THz. The good agreement between experimental results and theoretical predictions validates the proposed THz filter. Comparison with existing monolayer, frequency-selective bandpass-filter designs shows a substantial improvement in the filter skirts and the out-of-band rejection.
Biological and biochemical properties of the small viral RNA(pRNA) essential for the packaging of the dsDNA of phage ø29

Abstract The genome of the lineal double-stranded DNA viruses of both prokaryotes and eukaryotes is packaged into a preformed procapsid during maturation. Common features exist in this step of the viral life cycle. Bacteriophage o29 is an ideal model in this study because its DNA can be efficiently packaged in vitro with all components overproduced and purified. An exciting aspect is the discovery that a small viral RNA (pRNA) encoded by o29 has a novel and essential role in viral DNA packaging. This pRNA is not a structural component of the mature virion, nor is it required for the assembly of the procapsid. The discovery of pRNA as a non-protein participant in viral DNA packaging extends previously demonstrated RNA functions.
The effects of endobronchial cuff inflation on double-lumen endobronchial tube movement after lateral decubitus positioning☆

Abstract Object: This study was designed to measure changes in tracheal and bronchial lumen distances from mainstem and secondary carina with lateral positioning, and to assess whether inflation of the endobronchial cuff before lateral positioning would further secure a double-lumen endobronchial tube (DLT) and reduce movement. Design: Prospective study. Setting: University-affiliated cancer center. Participants: Fifty adult patients scheduled for elective thoracic surgical procedures requiring the placement of a left DLT. Interventions: Patients were sequentially assigned to either the endobronchial cuff-inflated group or the deflated group during lateral positioning. After induction of general anesthesia, a left polyvinylchloride (PVC) DLT was placed and the position confirmed. In the supine position, the distance from the tip of the tracheal lumen to main carina was measured using a fiberoptic bronchoscope (FOB) passed through the tracheal lumen, and the distance from the bronchial lumen to secondary carina was measured with the FOB passed through the bronchial lumen. The patients were then positioned laterally and a second set of measurements taken. Overall movement was determined by increases and decreases in tracheal and bronchial distances obtained by subtracting supine values from lateral values. Measurements and Main Results: There was significant tracheal movement in 40 of 50 patients, with a mean of 0.92 ± 1.0 cm. This was predominantly in the upward direction, as seen in 35 of 50 patients. There was significant bronchial movement in 37 of 50 patients, with a mean of 0.92 ± 1.15 cm. Also, predominance in the upward direction was seen in 34 of 50 patients. Conclusions: DLTs move with lateral positioning, regardless of endobronchial cuff inflation. The movement is predominantly in the upward direction. Therefore, fiberoptic visualization in the supine position should be used only to confirm that the endobronchial lumen is placed on the appropriate side and the cuff is at least 1 cm inside the left mainstem bronchus. Final positioning should always be verified in the lateral position.
Unilateral thyroidectomy for the treatment of benign multinodular goiter

Abstract Background Benign multinodular goiter (MNG) is one of the most commonly treated thyroid disorders. Although bilateral resection is the accepted surgical treatment for bilateral MNG, the appropriate surgical resection for unilateral MNG continues to be debated. Bilateral resection generally has lower recurrence rates but higher complication rates than unilateral resection. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to define the recurrence and complication rates of unilateral and bilateral resections to determine the appropriate intervention for patients with unilateral, benign MNG. Methods We reviewed a prospectively maintained database of all patients who underwent a thyroidectomy for treatment of benign MNG at a single institution between May 1994 and December 2011. All patients with bilateral MNG were treated with bilateral resection. Surgical treatment for unilateral MNG was determined by surgeon preference, with all but one surgeon opting for unilateral resection to treat unilateral MNG. Data were reported as means ± standard error of the mean. Chi-squared analysis was used to determine statistical significance at a level of P Results A total of 683 patients underwent thyroidectomy for MNG. Of these patients, 420 (61%) underwent unilateral resection and 263 patients (39%) underwent total thyroidectomy. The mean age was 52 ± 17 y, and 542 patients (79%) were female. The mean follow-up time was 46.1 ± 1.9 mo. The rate of recurrent disease was similar between unilateral (2%, n = 10) and bilateral (1%, n = 3) resections (P = 0.248). Unilateral resection patients had a lower total complication rate than patients with bilateral resections (8% versus 26%, P Conclusions Patients that had unilateral resections endured less overall morbidities than those who had bilateral resections, and their risk of recurrent disease was similar. They were also significantly less likely to require lifelong hormone replacement therapy postoperatively. Although bilateral resection remains the recommended treatment for bilateral MNG, these data strongly support the use of unilateral thyroidectomy for the treatment of unilateral, benign MNG.
STRATEGIES FOR ELECTRIC UTILITY BILL REDUCTION WHEN ALTERNATIVE RATE STRUCTURES APPLY

Abstract Non-residential customers of electric utilities often qualify to have their monthly bill amount computed using two different rate structures. Assume Schedule A is the rate structure which applies when a customer's peak power demand is less then an assigned value X, while Schedule B applies when ( he peak power demand is above X. The Schedule A rate structure consists of a fiat( uniform) cost component plus a second cost component proportional to ( he energy consumed. The Schedule B rate structure includes, in addition to these two types of charges, a third cost component which is proportional to the peak power demand. Also, non-residential customers with energy usage below a certain defined level are termed Type I users, while those customers who operate above this threshold are termed Type II users. In this analysis it was found that as the peak power demand is reduced, while holding energy usage constant, that Type I users are rewarded when Schedule B gives way to Schedule A, whereas Type II us...
Semen quality in ejaculates produced by masturbation in men with spinal cord injury

Retrospective study. Most men with spinal cord injury are anejaculatory. Much has been reported about their semen quality collected by penile vibratory stimulation and electroejaculation (EEJ). What is not well-described is the nature of semen quality in SCI patients who can ejaculate by masturbation. This study was performed to understand the degree to which their semen quality differed from that of anejaculatory SCI patients versus that of healthy non-SCI control subjects. University of Miami. Retrospective chart review of Male Fertility Research Program participants from 1991 to 2011. Of 528 SCI subjects, 444 met inclusion criteria of completing an algorithm in which ejaculation occurred by masturbation than the PVS group or EEJ group as the PVS group and control group than the PVS group or EEJ group (41%, P<0.001). This is the first report focusing on semen quality obtained by masturbation in men with SCI. Sperm motility was higher in men with SCI who could, versus could not, ejaculate by masturbation. Completeness of injury may contribute to this difference.
Assessment of contemporary stent deployment using intravascular ultrasound.

Four second- and third-generation coronary stents were evaluated using QCA and intravascular ultrasound for adequacy of stent expansion, the influence of disease burden on adequacy of deployment, and postdeployment structural effects on the artery. Despite satisfactory stent deployment rates on angiography of 92 %, adequate stent deployment by IVUS ranged from 38% to 55%. There was no significant difference in deployment success across the four stent types. Lesions with significant plaque burden were associated with a lower rate of deployment success (P = 0.04). Twenty-one edge dissections were demonstrated by IVUS; only six were detected by angiography. Observations made on first-generation stents regarding adequacy of deployment still hold true for newer-generation stents. Significant plaque burden is an independent negative predictor of stent deployment success. The presence of IVUS-detected edge dissections indicates that the extent of injury during PCI extends beyond the physical length of the stent.
Hyponatremia secondary to reset osmostat.

10. Jacobson D J, Curington C, Connery K, Toskes PP. Trypsinlike immunoreactivity as a test for pancreatic insufficiency. N Engl J Med 1984;310:1307. 11. Wood RE, Boat TF, Doershuk CF. State of the art: cystic fibrosis. Am Rev Respir Dis 1976;113:883. 12. Gaskin K J, Gurwitz D, Durie PR, Corey M, Levison H. Improved respiratory prognosis in patients with cystic fibrosis with normal fat absorption. J Pediatr 1982;100:857. 13. Gaskin K J, Durie PR, Lee L, Hill R, Forstner GG. Co-lipase and lipase secretion in childhood onset of pancreatic insufficiency. Gastroenterology 1984;86:1.
Should the mechanical index be revised for ARFI imaging

The mechanical index (MI) quantifies the likelihood that exposure to diagnostic ultrasound will produce an adverse biological effect by a nonthermal mechanism. The current formulation of the MI is based on inertial cavitation thresholds in two liquids, water and blood, as calculated by a formalism assuming very short pulse durations. Although tissue contains a high proportion of water, it is not a liquid but a viscoelastic solid. Further, acoustic radiation force impulse imaging employs high-intensity pulses up to several hundred acoustic periods long. The effect of these differences was studied in water, blood and five representative tissues.
Solubility and dissolution rate of silica in acid fluoride solutions

Abstract We performed 57 batch reactor experiments in acidic fluoride solutions to measure the dissolution rate of quartz. These rate data along with rate data from published studies were fit using multiple linear regression to produce the following non-unique rate law for quartz r qz ( mol / m 2 s ) = 10 - 4.53 e - 18932 RT a HF 1.18 a H + - 0.39 where 10−5.13 r as ( mol / m 2 s ) = 10 0.48 e - 34243 RT a HF 1.50 a H + - 0.46 where 10−2.37 HF 2 - + H+, F− + H+, HF + HF 2 - , HF + F−, or HF 2 - + F−, produced equally good fits. Any of these rate laws can be interpreted to mean that the rate-determining step for silica dissolution in fluoride solutions involves a coordinated attack of a Lewis acid, on the bridging O atom and a Lewis base on the Si atom. This allows a redistribution of electrons from the Si–O bond to form a O–H group and a Si–FH group.
Allocation of tool-replacement decision-making responsibility in flexible manufacturing systems

Abstract Effective decision support system (DSS) design for the supervisory controller of a flexible manufacturing system (FMS) requires that functions be allocated between the human and computer subsystems in order to establish an effective human-computer cooperative arrangement. To better understand the nature of this arrangement for the tool-replacement decision function, a study was performed that investigated four different levels of decision-making responsibility between human and computer with respect to making tool-replacement decisions. The human interacted with a simulated FMS through an interface consisting of two screens. One screen provided menu information and the interactive dialogue and information support characteristics to the particular cooperative arrangement while the other screen displayed an ongoing graphical representation of the FMS. Twelve subjects performed the task under three computer-interactive conditions: manual decision making, manual decision making with decision support, and computer control with human override. Six of these subjects performed the task under conditions where the priorities of workparts changed at some point during the task. A computer control condition that was governed by a Bayesian decision policy served as the control condition. Subjects were required to minimize economic losses as specified by a loss function while maximizing part throughput. The overall results indicated that, as compared to the other conditions, the manual decision making allocation policy was significantly more effective on both performance objectives under no priority change conditions and on the loss function measure when priority changes occurred. Based on various analyses, it was hypothesized that the more effective performance demonstrated under manual decision making conditions was due to the potential for this arrangement to promote better consideration of global as opposed to local information when making decisions.
Separation and quantitation of cholesterol oxides by HPLC with an evaporative light scattering detector in a model system

A method to analyze cholesterol and 10 of its oxidation products, ranging from the weakly polar cholest-4-ene-3,6-dione to moderately polar cholest-5-ene-3β,7α-diol, in a single run is described. The separation was achieved by normal-phase gradient high-performance liquid chromatography with an evaporative light-scattering detector. This universal mass detector does not detect changes in solvent composition; this makes it possible to employ gradients, an essential technique whenever a wide range of compounds with diverse characteristics is to be separated. Standards at concentrations from 0.1–1.0 µg were separated within 37 min on an alumina/silica column with a gradient elution system that contained dichloromethane, acetonitrile, and water.
Solid State Physics—1947

This article was part of a commemorative section in Solid State Technology entitled ‘The Transistor—The First Forty Years’, which celebrated the 40th anniversary of the December 1987 invention of the transistor at Bell Telephone Laboratories.
Sweat mineral loss from whole body, patch and arm bag in white and black girls

Abstract The objective of this study was to compare the loss of minerals in sweat between black and white girls by using four different methods of sweat collection. Sweat was collected from 36 girls during two three-week metabolic studies where they were fed either 1.3 or 4 g of Na/d in a crossover design. Sweat was collected by: 1) 24-h whole body; 2) 24-h back patch; 3) 30-min exercise with patches on the back; and 4) 30-min exercise with arm bags. Sweat losses of sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium were similar between races when whole body and patch methods were used. However, while consuming the high-Na diet, black girls excreted less (p
Parental smoking during pregnancy and risk of overweight and obesity in the daughter

Emerging evidence suggests that prenatal exposures may affect long-term health outcomes. In utero exposure to smoking is associated with an increased risk of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents. However, few studies have examined how prenatal exposure to parental smoking influences the risk of obesity during adulthood and whether these associations are independent of childhood and adolescent adiposity. The aim of the current study was to investigate whether prenatal exposure to parental smoking influences body size during adulthood and whether any association may be mediated by childhood and adolescent body size. We investigated the association between parental smoking during pregnancy and the risk of being overweight and obese during adulthood and at age 18 and adiposity during childhood among 35 370 participants in the Nurses’ Health Study II. Data on smoking during pregnancy and socioeconomic variables were provided by the mothers, and anthropometric data and adult risk factors were reported by participants. After adjustment for socioeconomic and behavioral variables, maternal smoking during pregnancy was associated with adiposity at ages 5–10, 18 and during adulthood. For age 18 overweight, the odd ratios, ORs (95% confidence intervals, CIs) for 1–14, 15–24 and 25+cigarettes per day were 1.13 (1.18–1.50), 1.40 (1.20–1.64) and 1.15 (0.79–1.69), and for obesity were 1.41 (1.14–1.75), 1.69 (1.31–2.18) and 2.36 (1.44–3.86). The corresponding ORs (95% CIs) for obesity during adulthood were 1.26 (1.16–1.37), 1.46 (1.30–1.63) and 1.43 (1.10–1.86). Risk of adiposity was not increased among daughters whose mothers stopped smoking during the first trimester (OR (95% CI) for overweight (1.03 (95% CI 0.90–1.17)) and for obesity (1.12 (95% CI 0.97–1.30)). Women whose fathers smoked during pregnancy were also at an increased risk of being overweight and obese during adulthood with covariate-adjusted ORs (95% CIs) for obesity of 1.19 (1.11–1.29) for 1–14 cigarettes per day, 1.27 (1.18–1.37) for 15–24 cigarettes per day and 1.40 (1.27–1.54) for 25+ cigarettes per day compared with fathers who did not smoke (Ptrend<0.0001). Paternal smoking during pregnancy was also associated with an increased risk of obesity at age 18 among those whose fathers smoked 15 or more cigarettes per day but was not associated with childhood body size. Maternal smoking during pregnancy was associated in a dose-response manner with overweight and obesity in the daughter across adolescence and adult life. Smoking cessation during the first trimester appears to mitigate this excess risk. Paternal smoking was also associated with the risk of being overweight and obese of the adult daughter and this association persisted after adjustment for maternal smoking.
Two-dimensional, remote micropositioner for a scanning tunneling microscope

A simple walker is described that is suitable as the coarse positioner in a scanning tunneling microscope. The walker is fabricated from a single piece of piezoelectric ceramic and has feet coated with thin metal and insulating films. The walker can move in either of two orthogonal, horizontal directions on an insulated, metallized quartz substrate in steps that can be varied from 25 to 400 nm.
Uncovering Hidden Titles: Contributing Factors and Solutions in the Context of SFX Migration

AbstractDuring 2008, the Hilton M. Briggs Library, South Dakota State University, successfully migrated its holdings from EBSCO A-ZÂ® locator tool to SFXÂ® link resolver, an Ex Libris product. This project presented itself as an opportunity to identify and solve issues relating to hidden titles after the migration. These hidden titles were a major source of frustration in testing and maintaining the SFX system. Eight main contributing factors were identified and solutions were developed. These solutions should be instructive when problem solving in similar projects.
Content Effects on Decision Making.

How does the domain or subject matter of a decision problem affect the outcome of the decision? Although decision-making research typically dismisses content as merely a cover story, the present research shows that it plays a fundamental role in the decision process by influencing the information processing that underlies it. An experiment is reported in which the same basic decision problem was presented in several content domains (legal traffic tickets, academic course grades, stock investments, and casino gambling). The changes in content led to changes in both strategies and mental representations, which in turn led to changes in decision outcomes, even though measures of the subjective utilities of the options remained unchanged.
Effect of anionic ion-pairing reagent hydrophobicity on selectivity of peptide separations by reversed-phase liquid chromatography.

Despite the continuing dominance of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) as the anionic ion-pairing reagent of choice for peptide separations by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC), we believe that a step-by-step approach to re-examining the relative efficacy of TFA compared to other ion-pairing reagents is worthwhile, particularly for the design of separation protocols for complex peptide mixtures, e.g., in proteomics applications. Thus, we applied RP-HPLC in the presence of different concentrations of anionic ion-pairing reagents – phosphoric acid, TFA, pentafluoropropionic acid (PFPA) and heptafluorobutyric acid (HFBA) – to a mixture of three groups of four 10-residue peptides, these groups containing peptides of +1, +3 or +5 net charge. Overall separation of the 12-peptide mixture improved with increasing reagent hydrophobicity (phosphate− < TFA− < PFPA− < HFBA−) and/or concentration of the anion, with reagent hydrophobicity having a considerably more pronounced effect than reagent concentration. HFBA, in particular, achieved an excellent separation at a concentration of just 10 mM, whereby the peptides were separated by charged groups (+1 < +3 < +5) and hydrophobicity within these groups. There was an essentially equal effect of reagent hydrophobicity and concentration on each positive charge of the peptides, a useful observation for prediction of the effect of varying counterion concentration hydrophobicity and/or concentration during optimization of peptide purification protocols. Peak widths were greater for the more highly charged peptides, although these could be decreased significantly by raising the acid concentration; concomitantly, peptide resolution increased with increasing concentration of ion-pairing reagent.
Human Adult Marrow Cells Support Prolonged Expansion of Human Embryonic Stem Cells in Culture

Prolonged propagation of human embryonic stem (hES) cells is currently achieved by coculture with primary mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) serving as feeder cells. Unlike mouse ES cells, adding growth factors such as leukemia inhibitory factor is insufficient to maintain undifferentiated hES cells without feeder cells. The presence of uncharacterized rodent cells or crude extracts imposes a risk to the clinical applications of hES cells. While others looked for a replacement of MEFs with human fetal cells, we attempted to use easily accessible postnatal human cells such as human marrow stromal cells (hMSCs). Culture-expanded hMSCs from multiple donors were used as feeder cells to support growth of the H1 hES cell line under a serum-free culture condition. Human ES cell colonies cultured on irradiated hMSCs amplified >100-fold during the 30-day continuous culture (in five passages). The longest continuous expansion of hES cells on hMSCs tested to date is 13 passages. The expanded hES cells displayed the unique morphology and molecular markers characteristic of undifferentiated hES cells as observed when they were cultured on MEFs. They expressed the transcription factor Oct-4, a membrane alkaline phosphatase, and the stage-specific embryonic antigen (SSEA)-4, but not the SSEA-1 marker. Expanded hES cells on hMSCs retained unique differentiation potentials in culture and a normal diploid karyotype. The well-studied hMSCs (and this animal cell- and serum-free system) may provide a clinically and ethically feasible method to expand hES cells for novel cell therapies. In addition, this system may help to identify cytokines and adhesion molecules that are required for the self-renewal of hES cells.
Principles of digital coherent receivers for optical communications

▪ Coherent detection enables the highest spectral efficiency by allowing information be encoded in amptitude and phase. ▪ Homodyne or heterodyne downcoverter recovers the field in each polarization, and sampling above Nyquist rate enables compensation in DSP with no loss of information. ▪ CD and PMD are linear distortions and can be compensated by a linear filter in both single-carrier and OFDM transmission. ▪ Single-carrier and QFDM have similar computational requirements. ▪ Phase-noise tolerance of feedforward carrier recovery is superior to PLL. ▪ In the presence of dispersion, phase noise tolerance scales inversely with impulse response duration. ▪ Digital BP is a universal method of compensating linear and nonlinear impairments for both single-carrier and OFDM. Enables greater transmission distance, at the expense of complexity.
A Formal Language for Describing Machine Logic, Timing, and Sequencing (LOTIS)

An informal description of the LOTIS language is presented. LOTIS is intended for formally describing the logical structure, the sequencing, and the timing of digital machines. An effort has been made to produce a hardware notation that is convenient and lucid, precise and flexible. In a LOTIS machine description, every linguistic constituent corresponds to a unique machine element. Timing can be specified in the synchronous or asynchronous mode or in any combination of both. Autonomous control units have a notational counterpart by which, concurrency of several machine sequences, timesharing of facilities by several control units, and interlocks, can be concisely expressed. A machine description has a hierarchical structure with an arbitrary number of levels; this permits it to be readily segmented. Depending on the focus of interest, the level of descriptive detail can be varied over the different segments.
Quantitative determination of nucleosides and their phosphate esters--1. The acidic nucleosides, 3-deazauridine and 6-azauridine.

Abstract 1. 1. A relatively rapid, high-resolution Chromatographic procedure, using mini-columns of DEAE cellulose equilibrated with 10mM sodium phosphate, pH 6.0, is described in sufficient detail to permit ready replication. 2. 2. This initial paper demonstrates the quantitative separation, using suction, of the acidic nucleosides, 3-deazauridine and 6-azauridine, from their phosphorylated derivatives. 3. 3. The chemically stable, tritium-labeled nucleosides are eluted from the mini-columns (capacity ≈ 1.8 ml) with 10mM sodium phosphate, pH 6.0; subsequently, the nucleotides are eluted completely with 0.5 M HCl/0.5 M NaCl. 4. 4. Quantitation is based on liquid scintillation counting of aliquots of the eluates.
Interactions of plasma proteins with a novel polysaccharide surfactant physisorbed to polyethylene.

—A polysaccharide surfactant, dextran-[1,6 bis(2-hydroxypropyl-1-amine)hexane]-dextran, (D-H-D) was prepared by reacting dextran (Mw = 8200) with epichlorohydrin followed by reaction with 1,6-hexan...
Contextual risk and parenting as predictors of effortful control and social competence in preschool children

Using a short-term longitudinal design (6 months), this study examined cumulative contextual risk as a predictor of effortful control (EC) and social competence in a community sample of children (N = 80, ages 33-40 months at time 1). Maternal parenting was examined as a mediator of contextual risk. EC was assessed using laboratory tasks, and parenting was assessed using observational ratings. Time 1 contextual risk was negatively related to time 2 EC after controlling for time 1 EC. Mothers' limit setting and scaffolding predicted higher time 2 EC and accounted for the effect of contextual risk. Time 1 EC, contextual risk, and parenting predicted time 2 social competence, and contextual risk had an indirect effect on social competence through parenting. Results suggest that contextual risk predicts smaller relative increases in EC and that parenting accounts for this effect. Knowledge of the factors that divert or promote effortful control can provide targets for intervention to enhance effortful control abilities and better adjustment.
Mathematical Modeling of Thermal Ablation in Tissue Surrounding a Large Vessel

Thermal ablation of a solid tumor in a tissue with radio-frequency (rf) energy can be accomplished by using a probe inserted into the tissue under the guidance of magnetic resonance imaging. The extent of the ablation can be significantly reduced by heat loss from capillary perfusion and by blood flow in a large vessel in the tissue. A mathematical model is presented of the thermal processes that occur during rf ablation of a tissue near a large blood vessel, which should not be damaged. Temperature distribution dynamics are described by the combination of a 3D bioheat transport in tissue together with a 1D model of convective-dispersive heat transport in the blood vessel. The objective was to determine how much of the tissue can be ablated without damaging the blood vessel. This was achieved by simulating the tissue temperature distribution dynamics and by determining the optimal power inputs so that a maximum temperature increase in the tissue was achieved without inducing tissue damage at the edge of the large vessel. The main contribution of this study is to provide a model analysis for pretreatment and, eventually, for intra-operative application to thermal ablation of a tumor located near a large blood vessel.
Target detection cycle criteria when using the targeting task performance metric

The US Army RDECOM CERDEC Night Vision and Electronic Sensors Directorate of the US Army (NVESD) has developed a new target acquisition metric to better predict the performance of modern electro-optical imagers. The TTP metric replaces the Johnson criteria. One problem with transitioning to the new model is that the difficulty of searching in a terrain has traditionally been quantified by an "N50." The N50 is the number of Johnson criteria cycles needed for the observer to detect the target half the time, assuming that the observer is not time limited. In order to make use of this empirical data base, a conversion must be found relating Johnson cycles for detection to TTP cycles for detection. This paper describes how that relationship is established. We have found that the relationship between Johnson and TTP is 1:2.7 for the recognition and identification tasks.
Aerothermal loads analysis for high speed flow over a quilted surface configuration

Attention is given to hypersonic laminar flow over a quilted surface configuration that simulates an array of Space Shuttle Thermal Protection System panels bowed in a spherical shape as a result of thermal gradient through the panel thickness. Pressure and heating loads to the surface are determined. The flow field over the configuration was mathematically modeled by means of time-dependent, three-dimensional conservation of mass, momentum, and energy equations. A boundary mapping technique was then used to obtain a rectangular, parallel piped computational domain, and an explicit MacCormack (1972) explicit time-split predictor corrector finite difference algorithm was used to obtain steady state solutions. Total integrated heating loads vary linearly with bowed height when this value does not exceed the local boundary layer thickness.
Beta-amylase degradation by serine endoproteinases from green barley malt

Proteolytic degradation of barley proteins is examined in green (unkilned) malt and germinating seeds from Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Harrington. Zymographic analysis of the Harrington green malt extracts using commercial preparations of barley beta-amylase incorporated as a proteolytic substrate in 2-D SDS gels shows multiple proteolytic activities. A developmental study shows that the several green malt beta-amylase-degrading activities appear at around day 2 of germination. The several activities appear to increase and decrease through 7 days of germination in a coordinated fashion. Gels treated with class-specific proteinase inhibitors show that serine-class proteinase activities are responsible for barley beta-amylase degradation seen on the zymograms. Western blot analysis also shows that proteolytic enzymes recovered from 1-D electrophoretic gels degrade barley beta-amylase, and that the degradation is inhibited by PMSF. This is the first demonstration that malt proteinases are capable of degrading important metabolic enzymes in germinating barley, and the first postulated physiological role for the serine class proteinases in barley malt.
On approximation measures for functional dependencies

We examine the issue of how to measure the degree to which a functional dependency (FD) is approximate. The primary motivation lies in the fact that approximate FDs represent potentially interesting patterns existent in a table. Their discovery is a valuable data mining problem. However, before algorithms can be developed, a measure must be defined quantifying their approximation degree.First we develop an approximation measure by axiomatizing the following intuition: the degree to which X → Y is approximate in a table T is the degree to which T determines a function from ΠX(T) to ΠY(T). We prove that a unique unnormalized measure satisfies these axioms up to a multiplicative constant. Next we compare the measure developed with two other measures from the literature. In all but one case, we show that the measures can be made to differ as much as possible within normalization. We examine these measure on several real datasets and observe that many of the theoretically possible extreme differences do not bear themselves out. We offer some conclusions as to particular situations where certain measures are more appropriate than others.
Environmental fate of spinosad. 1. Dissipation and degradation in aqueous systems.

Spinosad is a bacterially derived insect control agent consisting of two active compounds, spinosyns A and D. The objective of this paper is to describe the environmental fate of spinosad in aquatic systems. To this end, several studies performed to meet regulatory requirements are used to study the fate and degradation in individual environmental media. Specifically, investigations of abiotic (hydrolysis and photolysis) and biotic (aerobic and anaerobic aquatic) processes are described. Understanding developed from the laboratory-based studies has been tested and augmented by an outdoor microcosm study. Understanding of aquatic fate is a building block for a complete environmental safety assessment of spinosad products (Cleveland, C. B.; Mayes, M. A.; Cryer, S. A. Pest Manag. Sci. 2001, 58, 70−84). From individual investigations, the following understanding of dissipation emerges: (1) Aqueous photolysis of spinosad is rapid (observed half-lives of <1 up to 2 days in summer sunlight) and will be the prim...
Rapid determination on sperm cell concentration in bovine semen by flow cytometry

A flow cytometric technique is described for determining sperm concentration in fresh or extended semen with improved accuracy, precision, repeatability, ease of conduct, and rapidity. The technique is designed to measure the ratio of a known number of fluorescent beads admixed with sperm stained with either acridine orange or propidium iodide. A significant advantage of the technique is the distinct resolution between sperm and other particles (e.g., somatic cells, fat droplets, and bacteria in the semen or extender) that interfere in other counting protocols. Field testing of this protocol over the past 3 yr has demonstrated its superiority over the Coulter counter, hemacytometer, and spectrophotometer for accuracy in counting sperm in extended semen and the accuracy of counting sperm in straws based on preextension spectrophotometric determination of sperm concentration. Sperm chromatin quality can be determined simultaneously with this sperm counting procedure. This approach to counting sperm provides an excellent procedure for quality control of sperm numbers in processed semen.
Dynamics of two mutually coupled slow inhibitory neurons

Abstract Inhibition in oscillatory networks of neurons can have apparently paradoxical effects, sometimes creating dispersion of phases, sometimes fostering synchrony in the network. We analyze a pair of biophysically modeled neurons and show how the rates of onset and decay of inhibition interact with the timescales of the intrinsic oscillators to determine when stable synchrony is possible. We show that there are two different regimes in parameter space in which different combinations of the time constants and other parameters regulate whether the synchronous state is stable. We also discuss the construction and stability of nonsynchronous solutions, and the implications of the analysis for larger networks. The analysis uses geometric techniques of singular perturbation theory that allow one to combine estimates from slow flows and fast jumps.
Heterogeneity and specificity of non-histone nuclear phosphoproteins

Abstract 1. 1. Extensive heterogeneity has been observed amongst the non-histone chromatin phosphoproteins from a variety of species, tissues and cell types. 2. 2. Each tissue and each cell type exhibits a unique protein pattern and radioactivity profile when labeled with [ 32 P]. 3. 3. The differences in nuclear phosphoproteins of liver from different species were found to increase as the species being compared diverged evolutionarily.
Characterization and catalytic properties of MCM-56 and MCM-22 zeolites

Abstract We present an investigation of the structure and properties of MCM-56 and MCM-22. These materials have been characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and N2 adsorption isotherms. DIFFaX was used to simulate pronounced peak broadening in the X-ray diffraction patterns of MCM-56. Toluene disproportionation is used as a test reaction to compare the catalytic activity of MCM-22 and MCM-56. We have found that MCM-56 is made of very thin MWW-type layers. The layers are typically one unit cell along the c direction (with a few of them having two or three unit cells). These very thin layers of MCM-56 become tightly curled upon calcination. The structures thus formed pack very efficiently, and this phenomenon prevents access of organic molecules like toluene to most of the 12 MR cups on the crystal exterior. Although MCM-56 is active for the disproportionation of toluene, its activity is lower than that of MCM-22. A calcination procedure that prevents the curling up of the MCM-56 layers is needed to make MCM-56 a useful catalyst for large organic molecules.