cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Germany’s Answer to Standard Oil: The Continental Oil Company and Nazi Grand Strategy, 1940–1942

AbstractGerman grand strategy during World War II included making Europe independent of oil imported from sources controlled by the United Kingdom, the United States, and the USSR. The first step was to wrest control of oilfields. Producing and distributing the oil, however, required the creation of a company capable of replacing the evicted British, American, and Soviet suppliers. Therefore, in 1941, the Third Reich established the Continental Oil Company. Analysis of the company’s foundation and operations sheds light on the objectives of the Third Reich, including the postwar economic development of Axis Europe and the extension of German hegemony beyond the USSR into the Middle East.
Surface Layers on Tungsten produced by Active Nitrogen

WE have found that a fine tungsten filament at a very dull-red temperature placed in a stream of nitrogen undergoes a considerable (10–25 per cent.) lowering of its resistance (for constant current flowing through it) when active nitrogen produced up-stream by a condensed discharge passes over it. At the game time the colour changes to a much duller red, that is, the radiation is decreased. These changes persist until the filament is momentarily flashed at a white heat, whereupon the original condition is regained. Apparently a surface layer of some sort forms on the filament and produces a lowering of its temperature. The resistance of the filament at room temperature is the same either witli or without the layer.
Profiling of dynamic changes in hypermetabolic livers

The liver plays an important role in the overall negative nitrogen balance leading to muscle wasting commonly observed in patients following many conditions, including severe injury, cancer, and diabetes. In order to study changes in liver metabolism during the establishment of such catabolic states, we used a rat skin burn injury model that induces hypermetabolism and muscle wasting. At various times during the first week following the injury, livers were isolated and perfused in a recirculating system under well-defined conditions. We applied a steady-state metabolic flux analysis model of liver metabolism and then used k-means clustering to objectively group together reaction flux time profiles. We identified six distinct groups of reactions that were differentially responsive: (1) pentose phosphate pathway (PPP); (2) amino acid oxidation reactions leading to the formation of tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle intermediates; (3) gluconeogenesis; (4) TCA-cycle and mitochondrial oxidation; (5) lipolysis, beta-oxidation, and ketone body formation; and (6) urea-cycle. Burn injury sequentially upregulated the urea-cycle, the PPP, and the TCA-cycle, in order, while beta-oxidation and gluconeogenesis remained unchanged. The upregulation of the PPP was transient, whereas the rise in urea- and TCA-cycle fluxes was sustained. An ATP balance predicted an increased production of ATP and energy expenditure starting on day 3 post-burn, which correlated with the induction of the oxidative phosphorylation uncoupler uncoupling protein-2. We conclude that metabolic profiling using flux analysis and clustering analysis is a useful methodology to characterize the differential activation of metabolic pathways in perfused organs and to identify specific key pathways that are sensitive to a stimulus or insult without making a priori assumptions.
Information processing by cells and biologists (abstract only)

The core agenda of post-WWII molecular biology has been defined as the molecular understanding of how genetic information was transmitted and read out (see for example Stent 1968), and, by the 1950's, the analogy between the tape in a Turing machine and the linear sequence of nucleotides in DNA was apparent to both computer scientists and biologists.In the early 21st century, it may be that molecular biology can fruitfully return to these roots, by recasting part of its agenda in terms of the need to understand how biological information is processed. In a somewhat more modern formulation, cells can be though of as machines that process and make decisions on three kinds of information: 1) information stored in the genome 2) information about intracellular events (for example from heckpoint mechanisms) and 3) information external to the cell.In many cases the machinery that cells use to make decisions is reasonably well understood at a qualitative level. However, in no case do we possess a corresponding quantitative understanding, and, reflecting this, nor are we very capable of predicting the outcomes of perturbations to the genome, the internal workings of the cell, or its external environment.One path to understanding the behavior of these ensembles of components clearly lies in construction of mechanism-based quantitative models representing cellular processes. Building such models requires solution of numerous computational and experimental biological challenges. I will detail some of these.Another path may involve computation on the qualitative biological knowledge that now exists. Expert biologists reason on this qualitative information to make statements about the consequences of perturbations, but expert systems that do the same in the main do not exist. Here, although the need is clear, the relative opacity (to me) of much of the seemingly relevant computer science literature has made it more difficult to figure out first steps.Finally, note that information theory (Shannon 1948) has its roots in the 20th century need to understand transmission of electrical signals through channels. It is not immediately clear that the representations of biological processes used by biologists map well to concepts that come from this theory. To give only one example, one is hard pressed to define or find, inside a cell that is processing signals from the outside, either the signal or the “bits” (Tukey, 1946) that might make it up. There may be thus be an opportunity here for new theory to guide thinking and further experiment.
α-Synuclein Induced Membrane Curvature: What is the Significance of Negative Gaussian Curvature

α-Synuclein (αS) is an intrinsically disordered protein that forms an amphipathic α-helix upon binding to lipid vesicles. Using Molecular Dynamics simulations we have recently shown that the protein induces an anisotropic curvature field in the phospholipid bilayer when bound to a membrane. First, as is known to be characteristic of amphipathic helices, αS induces positive mean curvature (a hill). More interestingly, our simulations suggested unexpected complexities in the induced Gaussian curvature field. Our current efforts, described here, explore the physical principles that dictate these membrane curvature features, again using large-scale simulations. Our focus has been on how three physical aspects of the protein (helix length, flexibility, and hydrophobicity) lead to these complex curvature fields. In addition, we explore the relationship between negative Gaussian curvature and membrane tubulation.
miRNA expression in the failing human heart: functional correlates.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, noncoding ∼22-nucleotide regulatory RNAs that are key regulators of gene expression programs. Their role in the context of the cardiovascular system has only recently begun to be explored; however, changes in the expression of miRNAs have been associated with cardiac development and with several pathophysiological states including myocardial hypertrophy and heart failure. We demonstrate that miRNA expression patterns are distinct in two types of heart failure: idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy and ischemic cardiomyopathy. To pursue the observation that changes in expression levels of individual miRNAs are functionally relevant, microRNA mimics and inhibitors to miR-92, miR-100 and miR-133b were expressed in primary cultures of neonatal rat cardiac myocytes. These studies demonstrated that over expression of miR-100 is involved in the β-adrenergic receptor mediated repression of “adult” cardiac genes (i.e., α-myosin heavy chain, SERCA2a), and that over-expression of miR-133b prevents changes in gene expression patterns mediated by β-adrenergic receptor stimulation. In conclusion, some miRNA expression patterns appear to be unique to the etiology of cardiomyopathy and changes in the expression level of miR's 100 and 133b contribute to regulation of the fetal gene program. It is likely that this miR-directed reprogramming of key remodeling genes is involved in the establishment and progression of common human cardiomyopathies.
Fluoride-binding by organic matrix from early and late developing bovine fetal enamel determined by flow-rate dialysis.

Abstract Flow-rate dialysis was used to measure the fluoride-binding characteristics of the organic matrix from bovine fetal enamel. The matrix from newly deposited enamel had 5.78 × 10 −5 mol/g protein of high-affinity binding sites for fluoride (F) with a dissociation constant of 1.1 × 10 −6 M. The matrix from enamel in late stages of mineralization had 4.36 × 10 −5 mol/g matrix protein of binding sites with a dissociation constant of 3.2 × 10 −6 M. In the physiologic range of F concentrations, F bound by the early matrix could account for up to 40 times the F bound per unit weight of enamel by late matrix. Early enamel matrix may buffer the newly deposited enamel against transitory fluctuations in local F concentrations.
Silt-clay aggregates on Mars

Viking observations suggest abundant silt and clay particles on Mars. It is proposed that some of these particles agglomerate to form sand size aggregates that are redeposited as sandlike features such as drifts and dunes. Although the binding for the aggregates could include salt cementation or other mechanisms, electrostatic bonding is considered to be a primary force holding the aggregates together. Various laboratory experiments conducted since the 19th century, and as reported here for simulated Martian conditions, show that both the magnitude and sign of electrical charges on windblown particles are functions of particle velocity, shape and composition, atmospheric pressure, atmospheric composition and other factors. Electrical charges have been measured for saltating particles in the wind tunnel and in the field, on the surfaces of sand dunes, and within dust clouds on earth. Similar, and perhaps even greater, charges are proposed to occur on Mars, which could form aggregates of silt and clay size particles
Structure of Rauscher mouse leukaemia virus RNA.

RNA tumour viruses are divided on the basis of their biological and serological properties into three major groups: avian leukosis sarcoma, mouse leukaemia sarcoma and mouse mammary tumour1. Common features in electron microscopic appearance2–6, chemical composition7 and the presence of a group-specific antigen common to all members of the respective groups7, suggest that all the viruses may have similar structure. Addition of inhibitors of DNA-dependent RNA synthesis to infected cultures blocks virus production for members of all three groups (refs. 8–10 and unpublished results of R. C. Cardiff and P. B. Blair), so it is also probable that they have some characteristics of replication in common. Single-stranded RNA has been isolated from several of these viruses by the SDS-phenol method11–15. In each case density gradient sedimentation of the RNA yielded a fast-sedimenting component with sedimentation coefficient (Sw) of 60S-75S which was identified as the intact viral UNA, plus a 4S component which was thought to be degraded viral or cellular RNA.
Citalopram Overdose: a Fatal Case.

Background Citalopram is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) with cardiac and neurologic toxicities as well as the potential for serotonin syndrome. In most instances, patients recover fully from toxic ingestions of SSRIs. We describe a fatal case of a citalopram overdose.
Hyponatremia resulting from loss of lymphatic fluid in an infant with cystic lymphangioma

Enorme lymphangiome kystique chez un nouveau-ne occupant les zones cervicales droite et gauche et le cote droit de la face et representant la moitie du poids de l'enfant. Excision en plusieurs temps d'une partie de la tumeur. Etant donnees les difficultes de deglutition liees a la tumeur, des secretions riches en sodium et proteines sont rejetees par la voie orale provoquant hyponatremie et hypoalbuminemie a partir du 4eme mois. Auparavant l'enfant etait hospitalise et les pertes compensees par les perfusions intraveineuses
Characterization of shape and deformation of MEMS by quantitative optoelectronic metrology techniques

Recent technological trends based on miniaturization of mechanical, electro-mechanical, and photonic devices to the microscopic scale, have led to the development of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). Effective development of MEMS components requires the synergism of advanced design, analysis, and fabrication methodologies, and also of quantitative metrology techniques for characterizing their performance, reliability, and integrity during the electronic packaging cycle. In this paper, we describe opto-electronic techniques for measuring, with sub-micrometer accuracy, shape and changes in states of deformation of MEMS strictures. With the described opto-electronic techniques, it is possible to characterize MEMS components using the display and data modes. In the display mode, interferometric information related to shape and deformation is displayed at video frame rates, providing the capability for adjusting and setting experimental conditions. In the data mode, interferometric information related to shape and deformation is recorded as high-spatial and high-digital resolution images, which are further processed to provide quantitative 3D information. Furthermore, the quantitative 3D data are exported to computer-aided design (CAD) environments and utilized for analysis and optimization of MEMS devices. Capabilities of opto- electronic techniques are illustrated with representative applications demonstrating their applicability to provide indispensable quantitative information for the effective development and optimization of MEMS devices.
Genesis of freshwater subaqueous soils following flooding of a subaerial landscape

Abstract The majority of research on subaqueous soils has so far occurred in estuarine environments where their pedogenic concepts were first explored. We investigated subaqueous soils in a 91 ha freshwater impoundment, which prior to flooding were subaerial. Five landscape units across the lake were delineated based on water depth, slope, landscape shape, and depositional environment. Soils were sampled and analyzed for bulk density, particle size distribution, rock fragments, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), organic C and sulfidic materials. Given these soils did not classify as subaqueous under current criteria in Soil Taxonomy, we determined current subaerial classifications and propose new subaqueous classifications: Histic Frasiwassept (subaerial: Typic Humaquept); Typic Frasiwassept (subaerial: Typic Endoaquept); and Fragic Frasiwassept (subaerial: Typic Endoaquept). Lake main channel units have water depths that exceed 2.5 m, and thus exceed water depths where subaqueous soils are found. Across Lake channel bank deposits a Fragic Frassiwassept–Typic Frassiwassept complex is found with equal proportions of each soil. Across Lake bottom deposits Fragic Frassiwassepts are mapped. Lake cove deposits consist of a Fragic Frasiwassept–Histic Frasiwassept complex with equal proportions of each soil, and Lake shoals are comprised of Histic Frasiwassepts. Following impoundment creation, additions of mineral and organic material (likely erosional siltation) have resulted in soils with unique morphologic, physical, and chemical characteristics different from subaerial, shoreline soils but expressing a welded morphology that is a product of impoundment creation. These characteristics are identifiable across landforms, indicative of specific processes to soils, and can be reliably mapped in order to support aquatic ecosystem management.
Experiences from operated cases of patent ductus arteriosus.

Summary It is nowadays possible to make a diagnosis of patent ductus arteriosus by means of the continuous murmur and itspunctum maximum over the pulmonary orifice this symptom being registrable in the phonocardiogram. It may, for various reasons be regarded as an established fact that these cases have a varying degree of latent insufficiency. This, together with certain social indications, has lead to proposed surgery in all cases of isolated patent ductus arteriosus. In Sweden, CRAFOORD has up till now operated on about seventy-five cases. The following results are obtained from an after-examination of thirty-three of the forty cases included in the material from The Crown-princess Lovisa's Children's Hospital. The surgical mortality rate equals one death. No recidivism occurred. All the objective and subjective symptoms of cardiac decompensation, consisting of slight cyanosis, dyspnoea, fatigue, etc., disappeared after operation. The patients' development is normal physically as well as mentally. No difference is ascertainable between them and their comrades with normal hearts. One case of septic endocarditis, with an observation period of only three months after operation, has, as far as is possible to judge, regained complete health. The Rontgen radiograms disclosed a considerable decrease in the heart Volume after the intervention. As a rule, the result of the hypoxia tolerance test, with 9 per cent of oxygen for 10 minutes, was positive before and negative after the operation. This indicates a normalization of the cardiac function.
1137 INTRACEREBRAL HEMORRHAGE IN HIGH RISK PREMATURES

Subependymal (SEH) and intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) in infants less than 35 weeks gestation, requiring intensive care for 24 hours or longer, were studied prospectively. Initial computerized tomographicscan (CT scan) was obtained, and, if positive for blood, head circumference, clinical course, and serial scans were followed until ventricular size was normal. 29/58 infants were shown to have SEH and/or IVH, 26 by CT scan, I by ventricular tap, 2 on autopsy. 8 infants died. 6 of these had marked IVH, 3 shown by CT scan, I by ventricular tap, 2 by autopsy. Acute hydrocephalus of only mild to moderate degree occurred in the 3 fatalities with positive scans. The 23 survivors with positive scans had follow-up scans. 18/23 did not show progressive hydrocephalus, and of these 4 had only SEH. Of the others, 10 had mild, 3 moderate, and I marked IVH. 5 survivors with IVH developed severe progressive hydrocephalus. 2/5 had only mild IVH, which resolved spontaneously. 3/5 required treatment. IVH was moderate in 1, marked in 2. Serial head circumference was not predictive of need for treatment. The incidence of SEH and IVH was 50% in study infants and was not related to gestational age. The quantity of blood may be prognostically significant. No infant with SEH or mild IVH required treatment. Progressive hydrocephalus developed in 2 and resolved spontaneously. 7/10 infants with moderate to marked IVH survived. 3 required treatment.
The circulation of fluid at the limbus (flow and diffusion at the limbus)

Diffusion of molecules, e.g. ions, proteins, etc. and flow of water takes place across the physiological limbus. This 'structure' is estimated to be a zone approximately 1 mm in width and to bridge the anatomical limbus. The source of most molecules that diffuse into the corneal stroma across the limbus under normal circumstances is the perilimbal vascular system with its rich capillary bed. Small ions are lost within 2-3 mm of movement into the stroma, whereas larger molecules may diffuse to the centre of the cornea. Diffusion or flow may be bidirectional; however, it is anticipated that the majority of the flow, albeit small, is inward toward the cornea. The sclera, compared to the corneal stroma, has been found to be less resistant to fluid flow, but more resistant to diffusion of ions and larger molecules. Under normal circumstances, there have been few substances identified of importance that diffuse or flow across the limbus in either direction. There are a number of substances that traverse the limbus that are of importance in disease states, e.g. Wilson's disease, with the corneal Kaiser-Fleischer ring and angiogenic factors stimulating corneal neovascularisation. Under normal circumstances, the limbus would, therefore, seem to be more important as a zone that restricts flow and diffusion rather than an area of active molecular movement.
Polyethylene glycol induces apoptosis in HT-29 cells: potential mechanism for chemoprevention of colon cancer

Recent experimental evidence suggests that polyethylene glycol (PEG) is a highly effective chemopreventive agent against colon cancer; however, the mechanism(s) remain largely unexplored. To further elucidate this issue, we evaluated the effect of PEG on two human colon cancer cell lines. PEG treatment resulted in a dose- and time-dependent reduction in cell number without alteration in markers of cell proliferation. However, there was a dramatic and specific, concentration-dependent induction of apoptosis, with 50 mM PEG rendering approximately half the cells apoptotic. This corresponded with a 17-fold induction in the expression of the pro-apoptotic protein, prostate apoptosis response-4. Our data suggest that induction of apoptosis may be responsible, at least in part, for the ability of PEG to prevent experimental colon cancer.
Automatic phase space analysis of dynamical systems

Abstract Research on automating the analysis of nonlinear ordinary differential equations by combining artificial intelligence techniques with existing numerical software is discussed. A program called POINCARE that analyzes one-parameter autonomous planar systems at the level of experts through a combination of theoretical dynamics, numerical simulation, and geometrical reasoning is described. The input is the system, a bounding box for the system state, a bounding interval for the parameter, and error tolerances. POINCARE partitions the parameter interval into open subintervals of equivalent behavior bounded by bifurcation points, classifies the bifurcation points, and constructs representative phase diagrams for the subintervals. It detects local and global generic one-parameter bifurcations. It constructs the phase diagrams by identifying fixed points, saddle manifolds, and limit cycles and partitioning the remaining trajectories into open regions of uniform asymptotic behavior. It is explained how to extend POINCARE to two-parameter families of periodically driven planar equations. The basic algorithms carry over after some modifications and extensions. A survey of open issues in the automatic analysis of other dynamical systems is given.
Observations on crystal defects associated with diffusion induced grain boundary migration in CuZn

Abstract Standard TEM techniques have been applied to the study of crystal defects associated with DIGM in copper foil exposed to zinc vapor. The experimental results have been compared to the coherency strain theory (as discussed for liquid film migration (15, 16) and the Balluffi/Cahn GB Kirkendall effect theory (11). There are indications that coherency strain may play a role in the initiation of DIGM but the observation of a high density of GB steps suggests GBD climb is also a viable mechanism. However, neither model can explain all the experimental results. None of the current theories can be proved or disproved on the basis of the results presented here. The observations do, however, suggest the possibility that more than a single mechanism or driving force may be responsible for all the morphological changes associated with DIGM. We hope that this paper will serve to stimulate further TEM analysis of the DIGM process, particularly in the area of grain boundary structure and matrix dislocation densities.
Adhesion of monocytic and astroglial cells: Effects of inflammatory mediators

Monocytic and astroglial cells interact in culture to cause the release of several neuroactive compounds. The mechanism by which this occurs is unknown, though adhesion between these two cell types has been suggested as a possible triggering event. In the present study we sought to demonstrate monocytic binding to astroglial cells, and to elucidate molecular factors that may influence this association. Stimulation of U373-MG human astroglioma cells with several pro-inflammatory substances, including the tumor promoter phorbolmyristate acetate (PMA) and the bacterial cell wall component lipopolysaccharide (LPS), as well as cytokines IL-1α, TNF-α and INF-γ, was found to significantly enhance the attachment of U937 human monocytic cells. It was further observed that stimulation of U937 cells with PMA greatly augmented their adherence to untreated U373-MG cells, but not to each other. These findings are discussed in relation to mechanisms of neural damage in CNS inflammatory/infectious disease.
Solid-core tellurite glass fiber for infrared and nonlinear applications.

By optimizing glass composition and using a multistage dehydration process, a ternary 80TeO2-10ZnO-10Na2O glass is obtained that shows excellent transparency in the wavelength range from 0.38 µm up to 6.10 µm. Based on this optimized composition, we report on the fabrication of a single-mode solid-core tellurite glass fiber with large mode area of 103 µm2 and low loss of 0.24~0.7 dB/m at 1550 nm. By using the continuous-wave self-phase modulation method, the non-resonant nonlinear refractive index n2 and the effective nonlinear parameter γ of this made tellurite glass fiber were estimated to be 3.8×10-19 m2/W and 10.6 W-1·km-1 at 1550 nm, respectively.
CHRONIC LUNG INJURY BLUNTS THE PULMONARY VASOCONSTRICTOR RESPONSE TO HYPOXIA IN PRETERM LAMBS. • 1944

CHRONIC LUNG INJURY BLUNTS THE PULMONARY VASOCONSTRICTOR RESPONSE TO HYPOXIA IN PRETERM LAMBS. • 1944
Stromal Androgen Receptor in Prostate Development and Cancer

The androgen receptor (AR) in stromal cells contributes significantly to the development and growth of prostate during fetal stages as well as during prostate carcinogenesis and cancer progression. During prostate development, stromal AR induces and promotes epithelial cell growth, as observed from tissue recombinant and mouse knockout studies. During prostate carcinogenesis and progression, the stromal cells begin to lose AR expression as early as at the stage of high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia. The extent of loss of stromal AR is directly proportional to the degree of differentiation (Gleason grade) and progression of prostate cancer (PCa). Co-culture studies suggested that stromal AR inhibits the growth of malignant epithelial cells, possibly through expression of certain paracrine factors in the presence of androgens. This functional reversal of stromal AR, from growth promotion during fetal prostate development to mediating certain growth-inhibiting effects in cancer, explains to some extent the reason that loss of AR expression in stromal cells may be crucial for development of resistance to androgen ablation therapy for PCa. From a translational perspective, it generates the need to re-examine the current therapeutic options and opens a fundamental new direction for therapeutic interventions, especially in advanced PCa.
A case study of the effects of the service population on crime and the officer ratio in Orlando, Florida

Crime reflects the character of society and annual crime rates published by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the uniform crime report (UCR) in the USA are a basic indicator of safety in a community. Additionally, the police-residential population ratio is the traditional measure of the level of police protection in a community. Although these historical measures are widely accepted, the literature is void of one very important dimension that influences these measures in many communities: service population. Succinctly, service population considers several characteristics outside of a community's residential population such as homelessness, tourism, and daily commuting of workers into a city. In one of the top tourist destinations in the USA, Orlando, Florida, the service population has a profound effect on annual crime rates and the sworn officer ratio. This article highlights and discusses Orlando's service population formula while illustrating the significant differences between residential population and service population measures. The scientific confirmation of the population's effects on police organisations is illustrated in a structural equation model and a strong argument is made for the necessity to begin the discussion of a standard service population formula when analysing crime rates and officer ratios.
The nearshore current along a high-rainfall, trade-wind coast-Nicaragua

Abstract Runoff from abundant rainfall on the watersheds along the east coast of Nicaragua results in a well-defined nearshore current, extending 20–40 km out from the coast. Important terms in the controlling dynamical balance are the Coriolis forces, and eddy frictional forces. Calculations of the diabathic surface slope 0(10 −5 ) show a smooth setup of 4–5 cm from the outer edge of the current to the shoreline. A longshore surface slope of 0(10 −8 ) appears to be set up by the longshore wind stress, and further computations allow an estimate of ∼ 6 gr cm −1 s −1 for the dynamic eddy viscosity. An analytical expression including diabathic surface slope and density gradient, parabathic surface slope, wind stress, and quadratic bottom friction reproduces the salient observed features of the nearshore current. These include the pronounced maximum in the parabathic (along-shelf) current about 10 km off the coast, a complex diabathic velocity structure, and a shelf countercurrent just seaward of the outer edge. Further calculations suggest that the dominant driving arises from the freshwater-induced density gradients, accounting for upward of 80% of the flow velocity. As suggested by Royer (1982) , the prevailing trade wind exerts an onshore wind stress that serves the important role of maintaining the integrity of the density gradients via the convergence of a surface Ekman layer toward the coast.
Linezolid for the treatment of drug-resistant infections

Multidrug-resistant pathogens have become increasingly common in contemporary healthcare. Specific to Gram-positive pathogens, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is of particular concern, as it has been associated with increased hospital length of stay, higher healthcare expenditures and poorer outcomes. To date, linezolid is the first and only oxazolidinone approved by the US FDA for the treatment of infections caused by Gram-positive pathogens, including MRSA. This article will serve as a comprehensive review of linezolid, including an overview of the current market and its in vitro activity, with an in-depth review of its pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profile. Emphasis will be placed on clinical data for the drug, both on- and off-label. The article will conclude with a brief overview of linezolid’s pharmacoeconomic implications and safety profile, followed by a commentary and 5-year prospective analysis remarking on the future of the antimicrobial field as it relates to MRSA.
On two indentation hardness definitions

The difference between the contact area under load and the residual projected area of an indentation after complete unloading has been studied for various materials using finite element and dimensional analyses of cone indentation. The difference in the contact areas gives rise to two hardness values, one based on the contact area under load and another based upon the residual projected area. The effect of sinking-in, piling-up and elastic recovery on the residual contact area has been calculated for materials with different elastic properties and strain hardening characteristics. Based on this study, an estimation procedure is suggested for obtaining a more accurate value of the hardness under load from a measurement of the residual area of an indentation.
Differences in Consumer Perceptions of Similarity and Dissimilarity

Researchers have usually treated similarity ratings as the simple inverse of dissimilarity ratings. Tversky's theory of perception of similarity and dissimilarity (1977), however, explicitly recognizes that the attributes used in the perception of similarity and the attributes used in the perception of dissimilarity are decidedly different. In fact, the weights assigned to common and distinctive features changes according to the task at hand (i.e., when similarity is to be rated the common features are weighted more, and when dissimilarity is to be rated the distinctive features are weighted more). This study demonstrates these differences in a judgment task of rating similarity and dissimilarity on the basis of data that is external to the subjects.
Hedging price changes in the S&P 500 options and futures contracts: the effect of different measures of implied volatility

We evaluate the performance of delta, delta-gamma and delta-vega hedges on the S&P 500 futures options with a particular focus on importance of daily volatility updating and the use of price-change implied volatility. Our findings indicate that the hedging performance of Black’s model improves with daily updating of implied volatility and fitted price-change implied volatility for both calls and puts. Surprisingly, neither directly estimated implied price-change volatility nor introduction of additional traded option to the hedging portfolio seems to improve the hedging performance.
Defect-tolerant Logic with Nanoscale Crossbar Circuits

Crossbar architectures are one approach to molecular electronic circuits for memory and logic applications. However, currently feasible manufacturing technologies for molecular electronics introduce numerous defects so insisting on defect-free crossbars would give unacceptably low yields. Instead, increasing the area of the crossbar provides enough redundancy to implement circuits in spite of the defects. We identify reliability thresholds in the ability of defective crossbars to implement boolean logic. These thresholds vary among different implementations of the same logical formula, allowing molecular circuit designers to trade-off reliability, circuit area, crossbar geometry and the computational complexity of locating functional components. We illustrate these choices for binary adders. For instance, one adder implementation yields functioning circuits 90% of the time with 30% defective crossbar junctions using an area only 1.8 times larger than the minimum required for a defect-free crossbar. We also describe an algorithm for locating a combination of functional junctions that can implement an adder circuit in a defective crossbar.
Investigating the distribution of prairie dogs in an urban landscape

Habitat fragmentation is a prevalent threat to biological diversity, and urbanization is a primary agent of fragmentation and a leading cause of species endangerment. Landscape biogeographic and local habitat characteristics can be important determinants of the distribution of species in habitat patches in urban landscapes. However, the specifics of which characteristics are most critical to maintaining biological diversity are not fully known for prairie ecosystems, especially in fragmented urban habitat. This study focuses on black-tailed prairie dogs along an urban gradient in Denver, CO. Prairie dogs have declined precipitously throughout the region and are an essential part of the prairie ecosystem, making them excellent study subjects. We identified a series of habitat fragments along a gradient of urbanization in the fully urbanized areas and south suburbs of Denver, CO, both containing and not containing prairie dogs. Local characteristics, including fragment slope and vegetative cover, and landscape characteristics, including fragment size, age and connectivity, were measured on each fragment. We used likelihood-based methods to explore which variables most accurately predicted prairie dog occurrence within our study area. Multiple factors influenced the distribution of prairie dogs in urban settings, with colony connectivity the strongest predictor of occupancy. Large and recently isolated fragments near other prairie dog colonies, flat areas and those with high graminoid cover were most likely to support prairie dog populations. Our study provides the first attempt to model prairie dog occurrence in highly fragmented urban habitat and has important implications for the management and conservation of prairie dogs.
Modified Atmosphere Storage of Rockfish Flllets

A modified atmosphere (MA) of 80% CO2 and 20% air was effective in extending shelf life of fresh rockfish fillets. Aerobic plate counts and trimethylamine levels were significantly lower (P < 0.1%) for the fillets held in MA compared to those held in air. A decline in surface pH was observed on fillets stored in MA, presumably due to the absorption of CO2 and its hydration to carbonic acid. Oxidation-reduction potentials suggested a more aerobic environment on fillets stored in MA. There were no significant differences in weight loss between control and MA samples. Sensory evaluations indicated that fillets held under MA were of good quality for at least 13 days of storage.
Here Today, Gone Tomorrow: Consumer Reactions to Perceived Limited Availability

In-store hoarding refers to shoppers taking possession of an item and keeping it for themselves while shopping although they are not sure whether or not to buy. We investigated the impact of perceived limited availability on in-store hoarding and purchases in the domain of a "here today, gone tomorrow" retail environment where merchandise availability is constrained by a short renewal cycle and a limited supply. We tested the model with female shoppers from fast fashion retailers. Perceived perishability and scarcity intensified anticipated losses of not buying, accelerating in-store hoarding and purchases. We discuss theoretical and practical implications of in-store hoarding that may induce on-the-spot purchases.
A comparison of an anti-CD25 immunotoxin, Ontak and anti-CD25 microbeads for their ability to deplete alloreactive T cells in vitro.

Ex vivo depletion of alloreactive CD25+ T cells from a stem cell transplant (SCT) can reduce the incidence of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) while preserving antimicrobial and perhaps antileukemia activity. However, the most effective methods for allodepleting T cells prior to transplant have not been determined. In this study, we have compared three agents that deplete CD25+ activated, alloreactive T cells. These included Ontak (Denileukin Diftitox), an IL-2 fusion toxin, anti-CD25 microbeads (MACS), an anti-CD25 immunotoxin (IT) and a combination of the IT and MACS. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) activated in a primary mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) were allodepleted using optimal amounts of each agent, and the cells were then analyzed by flow cytometry. The treated cells were examined both for remaining alloreactivity and for the preservation of third party reactivity by testing them in a secondary MLR. Our data demonstrate that both the anti-CD25 IT and the anti-CD25 MACS were equally effective in depleting CD4+CD25+ cells and in sparing T cells that were reactive with third party cells. The anti-CD25 IT was, however, superior in depleting alloreactive CD8+CD25+ cells. In contrast, Ontak did not eliminate alloreactive cells and the Ontak-treated cells retained significant reactivity against the original stimulator cells.
An experimental study of hybrid energy-aware scheduling in a cloud testbed

Open-source cloud management often has a high degree of centralization and limited support of power management. This paper develops a hybrid approach that combines suspending idle server and load-balancing of virtual machines to minimize energy consumption in the cloud environment. We have conducted a series of experiments evaluating the performance of the hybrid approach under different synthetic CPU loads and memory usage. We also studied the effect of traditional task scheduling schemes in conjunction with our hybrid approach on energy consumption. Experimental results show that the hybrid technique can increase power saving by approximately 10–20% with various server configurations, workloads and task scheduling schemes, while meeting a variety of service requirements of different applications.
Transmission electron microscopy for the semi-conductor industry

During the last 5 years, semi-conductor industry has dramatically enhanced the device performance by continuously introducing new technologies and aggressively scaling down the feature sizes. During the progress, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) has played a very important role in the process development, manufacture controlling, and failure analysis. On the other hand, the development of TEM techniques for the semi-conductor devices, especially the sample preparation technique, has changed the entire aspect of the TEM. TEM is no longer a name heard only in research institutes and universities. It becomes so important for semi-conductor industry that TEM are treated as the most reliable resource for process evaluation and failure analysis and that TEM images are often used as one of the most powerful evidence for the patent infringement trial. In this paper, the author reviews the great challenges that electron microscopist has been facing from the semi-conductor industry and presents TEM results that illustrate the utilization of various TEM techniques to meet the challenges. To emphasize the unique ability of TEM, application of the precision TEM technique is mentioned in detail. A new three-dimensional TEM technique is also discussed.
Seismic fragility of short period reinforced concrete structural walls under near-source ground motions

The Bayesian parameter estimation technique is used to develop probabilistic displacement and strength capacity and demand models for reinforced concrete structural walls. Experimental data are used to develop the capacity models, and nonlinear dynamic analysis is employed to develop the demand models. Both flexural and shear failures are accounted for. These models are used to assess the seismic fragility of an example RC structural wall. As a new measure of the ground motion intensity, the significant peak ground acceleration is defined and incorporated in the probabilistic demand models and fragility assessment. It is shown that, for short period structures, this measure better correlates with the inelastic response than the elastic response spectrum.
The dynamics of fibril magnetic fields. III - Fibril configurations in steady flows. IV - Trapping in closed convective rolls

The present investigation has the objective to provide an illustration of the equilibrium form of a hypothetical fibril field beneath the surface of the sun. Equilibrium fibril paths in static and moving atmospheres are considered. The provided examples are related to horizontal flows in an atmosphere in which the two anchor points of the arched fibril lie along the flow direction relative to each other. A brief introduction to the subject of the motion of horizontal fibrils in convective rolls is also presented, taking into account some implications for the sun. The equations of motion for a slender, buoyant flux tube extending horizontally along a closed convective roll are solved to illustrate the motion of the flux tube relative to the fluid, and attention is given to theoretical possibilities for the escape of flux tubes from a large horizontal convective roll in the sun.
Investigation of nonpenetrative thermal convection using stereoscopic particle image velocimetry

ABSTRACT Non-penetrative thermal convection in a large-aspect-ratio container of water has been studied using stereoscopicParticle Image Velocimetry (PIV) to measure three-dimensional velocity vectors in planar domains. The unique aspectsof this work are the application of stereoscopic PIV in highly turbulent flow with significant small-scale energy, and theapplication in a liquid-filled test section which requires significant corrections for aberrations.Velocity data were obtained for three different cases of non-penetrative convection, corresponding to convective ye- locities, w, of 3, 4, and 5 mm/s. For each case, a sequence of about 20 pairs of stereo-photographs were recorded ina vertical plane, with sufficient time separation between photographs to ensure statistical independence at least for theturbulent motions with time-scales on the order of z /w . The grid-spacing of the resulting velocity fields was adequateto resolve the smallest structures in the flow.Visual comparison of the three-dimensional vector field, and its corresponding two-dimensional projection reveals thatthe two-dimensional projection can lead to erroneous interpretation of flow structure. Vertical profiles for o
Influence of Ethanol Intake on Mammary Gland Morphology and Cell Proliferation in Normal and Carcinogen-Treated Rats

Alcohol consumption has been reported to increase breast cancer risk in a majority of epidemiological studies and to enhance, at specific dietary concentrations, both the initiation and promotion stages of chemically induced rat mammary tumorigenesis. However, there is limited information regarding possible mechanisms for this effect. The present studies were conducted to examine a possible mechanism for the promoting effect of ethanol on chemically induced mammary tumorigenesis. The influence of chronic ethanol intake by female rats on the progress of differentiation and on the rate of target structure cell proliferation of the mammary gland was evaluated. Results of these studies indicate that ethanol intake at 20% and 30% of calories by female rats between the ages of 55 and 94 days (a period associated with the promotion stage of experimental mammary tumorigenesis) results in a delay in the differentiation of the mammary gland. This delay in gland maturation observed for rats consuming ethanol was evidenced by an increase in the quantity of less mature terminal-end bud (TEB) structures and a decrease in the quantity of more mature alveoler bud structures. The DNA labeling index of the target structure TEB increased significantly for rats consuming ethanol. These changes in mammary gland maturation and in TEB DNA labeling index were observed for both normal and carcinogen-treated rats consuming ethanol. Also, serum progester-one, but not estradiol, was significantly decreased for animals consuming ethanol at 30% of calories compared with isocaloric controls. The correlation of these changes in the mammary gland with the reported enhancement by ethanol of the promotion stage of experimental rat mammary tumorigenesis is discussed.
ASYMMETRIC SYNTHESIS OF SULTAMS AND SULFONAMIDES VIA DIASTEREOSELECTIVE REDUCTION OF N-SULFONYLIMINES

Abstract The diastereoselective reduction of both cyclic and acyclic camphor sulfonylimines was investigated. With cyclic camphor sulfonylimines 1, reduction using NaBH4 in methanol afforded the corresponding camphorsultams 2 in 92–95% yield as single diastereomers with the exception of 1c where debromination occurred prior to reduction. For the large scale preparation of camphorsultam 1a and its derivatives, important chiral auxiliaries in asymmetric synthesis, reduction with NaBH4 is the reagent of choice. Reduction of acyclic camphor sulfonylimines 7 to camphorsulfonamides 8 with the bulky reducing reagent, LiAI(OBu-i)3H afforded the highest de's (>90% de) and yields 90–95%.