cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Synthesis of isotopically labeled tri‐p‐tolylamine

Three isotopically labeled tri-p-tolylamines, 15N, 15N2D27, and mono-13CH3 have been prepared using zeolite mediated bromination or nitration of toluenes as one of the key steps. The obtained-4-nitrotoluenes were reduced to 4-aminotoluenes, and coupled, via a palladium catalyzed amination reaction, with 4-bromotoluenes to afford di- and tri-p-tolylamines. The di-p-tolylamines were readily transformed into tri-p-tolylamines using the same palladium catalyzed methodology. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Enterprise Consolidation for DoD Using AdvancedTCA

The Advanced Telecommunications Computing Architecture (AdvancedTCA) standard for information technology (IT) equipment has been proposed as ideal for use in the extreme environments experienced by military units, designed specifically to meet the extremes of high temperatures. Despite the fact that AdvancedTCA components are designed specifically to provide an overall availability (AO) in excess of 0.99999 and delivered ready-made to meet requirements for modularity and scalability under the Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA), the Department of Defense has been fairly slow to adopt AdvancedTCA as a standard for its IT programs. At least one of the reasons for this slow adoption is that AdvancedTCA servers generally perform slower than commodity IT servers, which is thought to result in poor system performance. After modeling an enterprise IT environment and simulating network traffic using the OPNET Modeler tool, the authors demonstrated that there is no performance degradation in using AdvancedTCA servers for the consolidation effort in comparison to commodity IT equipment. The authors used analysis of variance and Kruskal-Wallis multivariate data analysis techniques to show that there is no significant degradation in the overall performance of the system when using AdvancedTCA servers. In order to conduct this comparison, the authors developed a system-level performance benchmark (system goodput GS) to show that individual component benchmarks are not accurate predictors of system-level performance. The benefits of AdvancedTCA in terms of ruggedization, quality, cost savings, MOSA compliance, and increased AO far outpace any perceived performance gap.
The US JGOFS data management experience

Abstract The US Joint Global Ocean Flux Study (JGOFS) database management system is an online, oceanographic database assembled from the research activities of the US JGOFS field and Synthesis and Modeling Program (SMP). It is based on modern, object-oriented programming, with a web-based user interface ( http://usjgofs.whoi.edu/jg/dir/jgofs ) that gives all users, regardless of the computer platform being used, equal access to the data and metadata. It is populated with an extensive set of biogeochemical data from the US JGOFS community along with the attendant metadata. This article summarizes the lessons learned that may serve as a primer for future oceanographic and earth science research programs. Good data management requires devoted resources, about 5–10% of the total cost of the program. A data management office should be established at the initiation of the program, conventions for standard methods, names, and units need to be established before the field program begins, and an agreed-to list of metadata must be collected systematically along with the data. Open and accessible data management depends upon investigators agreeing to share their data with each other, leading to more rapid scientific discovery. Data management should support data distribution and archival; interactions between the data managers and the principal investigators make the database a living database. Innovative use of commercial products in information technology can save time and money in scientific database management. Technology allows access to the database to be transparent in location and intuitive in use. Finally, the most important investments in data management are the people hired.
Industrial and Environmental Pressures Affecting Fante-Speaking Artisanal Fishers of Anomabo, Ghana: A Case Study

A great deal of literature exists regarding the global fisheries crisis. However, the human element has been largely overlooked. This study seeks to understand the relationship that traditional Fante-speaking peoples have with oceanic resources. Interviews with artisanal fishers, trades-women, and influential elders from the coastal village of Anomabo in the Central Region of Ghana were conducted over a six-week period. Interviews revealed the degree to which artisanal fishers compete with industrial fleets (both domestic and foreign), the nutritional and economic importance of the artisanal industry as well as the cultural practices embedded within maritime subsistence activities. Industrial fisheries threaten global marine stocks, and with them, the survival of cultures tied to the sea. This study suggests a necessity for swift policy change in order to ensure the health of West African marine stocks, and to protect the nutritional, economic, and cultural basis of Fante-speaking communities.
ReImInfer: method purity inference for Java

Method purity inference, also known as side-effect analysis, is an important problem. It has many applications including compiler optimization, model checking, memoization of function calls, atomicity, etc. Surprisingly, despite the long history of this problem, we know of no purity inference tool that scales to large codes and analyzes both whole programs and libraries.We build a purity inference tool called ReImInfer on top of a type inference and checking framework. ReImInfer infers method purity for Java. It is modular and compositional, produces precise results and scales to large programs.
Photoresist materials: a historical perspective

This paper provides a short history of the development of resist materials. We trace the development of resists from the very beginnings of photography in the early 1800s to today's efforts to develop 193 nm resist materials.
In vitro systems for nephrotoxicity studies.

Abstract A variety of in vitro systems, including the perfused kidney, microperfused nephron(s), cultured renal slices, renal tubule suspensions/cultures, isolated nephron components (glomeruli and tubule segments) and renal cell suspensions/cultures can be utilized to evaluate chemicals for their potential nephrotoxicity and mechanisms of action. These systems have varying degrees of relevance to the intact kidney or portions thereof; which model to use depends on the specific question asked. If maintenance of physiological flow conditions is important then only the perfused kidney (or tubule) can be used. If the toxicity can be studied in the absence of normal fluid flow, then the other systems may be utilized. Kidney subfractions also have the advantage of multiple biological units that can be examined simultaneously and separately. Closely defined renal slice systems allow for enrichment and evaluation of multiple target cells within the slice. Suspensions or cultures of nephron subfractions are now frequently used to assess the potency and/or mechanism of renal toxins. Disadvantages include the utilization of collagenase, which scars cell and basement membranes and affects membrane transport proteins, which leads to inadequate maintenance of transport mechanisms. Isolation of tubule segments (P 1 , P 2 , P 3 ), allows site-specific toxicity studies. Lastly, there has been a dramatic increase in renal cell culture to study toxic events in the kidney. Because of the multiple cell types, minimal availability of specific cell markers, and de-differentiation phenomena, this technique should be used with caution. These in vitro systems have allowed us to examine the role of transport and biotransformation, and to compare potency and mechanism of nephrotoxic chemicals. Although in vitro systems cannot totally duplicate or replace in vivo toxicity studies, they are a very useful and valuable complement.
The Causal Theory of Perception

Une theorie causale de la perception est-elle philosophiquement viable? L'A. recuse les argumentations par lesquelles d'autres ont appuye leur reponse negative a cette question.
Temporal Petri nets and their application to modeling and analysis of a handshake daisy chain arbiter

A class of Petri nets called temporal Petri nets is introduced, in which timing constraints are represented by the operators of temporal logic. Due to the versatility of the temporal logic operations to express temporal assertions, temporal Petri nets can describe clearly and compactly causal and temporal relationships between the events of a system, including eventuality and fairness. The use of temporal Petri nets is illustrated with a nontrivial example of modeling and analysis of a handshake daisy-chain arbiter. >
Fundamentals of Preparing Suspensions of Silicon and Related Ceramic Powders

A dispensability model previously developed for silicon powder is extended to theoretically predict the behavior of silicon nitride and silicon carbide powders, and their nonstoichiometric analogs, in a variety of potential dispersing media.
Solution structure of the N-terminal zinc binding domain of HIV-1 integrase.

The solution structure of the N-terminal zinc binding domain (residues 1–55; IN1–55) of HIV-1 integrase has been solved by NMR spectroscopy. IN1–55 is dimeric, and each monomer comprises four helices with the zinc tetrahedrally coordinated to His 12, His 16, Cys 40 and Cys 43. IN1–55 exists in two interconverting conformational states that differ with regard to the coordination of the two histidine side chains to zinc. The different histidine arrangements are associated with large conformational differences in the polypeptide backbone (residues 9–18) around the coordinating histidines. The dimer interface is predominantly hydrophobic and is formed by the packing of the N-terminal end of helix 1, and helices 3 and 4. The monomer fold is remarkably similar to that of a number of helical DMA binding proteins containing a helix-turn-helix (HTH) motif with helices 2 and 3 of IN1–55 corresponding to the HTH motif. In contrast to the DNA binding proteins where the second helix of the HTH motif is employed for DNA recognition, IN1–55 uses this helix for dimerization.
Role of Complement in Antiphospholipid Antibody-mediated Thrombosis

The mechanisms by which an antibody that reacts with phospholipids (universal components of mammalian membranes) causes thrombosis are not immediately obvious. The development of an animal model of antiphospholipid antibody syndrome has moved the field forward in dissecting the pathogenesis of antiphospholipid antibody syndrome and has implicated the complement system in the mechanism of disease. Understanding complement’s role in promoting thrombosis will be important in designing safer, more effective approaches to the treatment of patients with antiphospholipid antibodies, and may shed light on which patients are at greatest risk for thrombosis, perhaps permitting primary prophylaxis before irreversible tissue and organ damage occur.
Nodavirus RNA Recombination

Abstract The genomes of nodaviruses contain two positive-sense RNAs that encode the RNA polymerase and capsid proteins, respectively. In this system, recombination occurs when the polymerase switches templates during negative strand RNA synthesis, usually at a site where the nascent strand can form 4–5 bp with the acceptor template. Two other factors influence the choice of recombination site: (1) template secondary structure, which is predicted to hold the recombination sites in close proximity; and (2) similarity of the cross-over site to an origin of replication, which suggests that the polymerase interacts directly with the acceptor template.
Diazotransfer Reactions with p-Acetamidobenzenesulfonyl Azide

Abstract The utility of p-acetamidobenzenesulfonyl azide in diazotransfer reactions is described. This practical, cost effective reagent offers advantages over existing alternatives.
Nanometal surface energy transfer in optical rulers, breaking the FRET barrier.

Optical-based distance measurements are essential for tracking biomolecular conformational changes, drug discovery, and cell biology. Traditional Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET) is efficient for separation distances up to 100 A. We report the first successful application of a dipole-surface type energy transfer from a molecular dipole to a nanometal surface that more than doubles the traditional Forster range (220 A) and follows a 1/R4 distance dependence. We appended a 1.4 nm Au cluster to the 5‘ end of one DNA strand as the energy acceptor and a fluorescein (FAM) to the 5‘ end of the complementary strand as the energy donor. Analysis of the energy transfer on DNA lengths (15, 20, 30, 60bp), complemented by protein-induced DNA bending, provides the basis for fully mapping the extent of this dipole surface type mechanism over its entire usable range (50−250 A). Further, protein function is fully compatible with these nanometal−DNA constructs. Significantly extending the range of optical based met...
The Development of Tissue-Engineered Grafts for Reconstructive Cardiothoracic Surgical Applications

Surgical correction of congenital heart defects often requires the use of valves, patches, or conduits to establish anatomic continuity. Homografts, xenografts, or mechanical prosthetic devices are frequently implanted during these surgical procedures. These grafts however lack growth potential, are associated with increased risk of thrombosis and infection and have limited durability, thus increasing the morbidity and mortality of their application in pediatric cardiac surgery. These limitations are being addressed through the development of living, biologic tissue-engineered valves, patches, and conduits. Pilot studies and phase 1 clinical trials are currently underway to evaluate their feasibility, safety, and efficacy. The optimal scaffold, cell source, and conditioning parameters, however, still remain to be determined and are areas of active research.
Modeling Configural Patterns in Latent Variable Profiles: Association With an Endogenous Variable

A model is proposed for identifying latent predictor score patterns associated with a latent outcome variable. The model employs 2 new devices: (a) a path coefficient vector of contrast coefficients to describe a configural pattern in a structural model, and (b) a new type of latent variable with values that quantify the match of the person's latent predictor variable profile pattern to a theoretical pattern associated with the factor. The model is illustrated using data on perceptions and evaluations of political candidates during a debate. Findings suggest a pattern of scores on the perceptual variables associated with perceived debate success for female observers but not for male observers.
A prevalence formula for automatic relevance feedback in Boolean systems

Abstract The implementation of relevance feedback explored here demonstrates the feasibility of query reformulation for boolean retrievals. Improvements to a term prevalence formula used in earlier research are presented along with experimental results that confirm the crucial role of term weights in relevance feedback. In particular, the weighting formula presented here differs significantly from those used by researchers in associative retrieval environments by giving equal weight to a patron's judgements of nonrelevance. The use of negative feedback—by NOTing terms in the negative prevalence range—failed to improve precision, a result that is also considered significant.
Phytoplankton ecology of a barrier island estuary: Great South Bay, New York

The phytoplankton ecology of Great South Bay, New York, was studied over a 1-year period. The study area, a large barrier island estuary (coastal lagoon with estuarine circulation), was characterized by high levels of inorganic nutrients, high turbidity and a shallow euphotic zone (<2 m). Net annual primary production by phytoplankton was high—450 g C m−2 year−1—and accounted for approximately 85% of the total ecosystem primary production. Chlorophyll a-specific productivity was dependent on mean photic zone light intensity in areas of the bay <1 m in depth from September 1979 through June 1980; 65–95% of the total light extinction in those areas was attibutable to suspended solids. Nitrogenous nutrient concentration did not limit phytoplankton productivity. Diatom and dinoflagellate cell densities varied greatly over time, while cryptomonad and chlorophyte species were abundant throughtout the year. Chlorophytes of 2–4 μm (‘small forms’) were numerically dominant, and contributed approximately half of the total phytoplankton biomass. Dilution of bay water by intruding ocean water appeared to control the spatial distribution of chlorophyll a on the south side of the bay; in other areas, growth appeared to exceed the rate of dilution by flushing. Waters entrained in eelgrass beds were significantly higher in salinity and mean photic zone light intensity, and had lower phytoplankton standing stock and depth-integrated primary production than control areas; waters in the sediment plume of active clamdigging boats were statistically similar to control areas with respect to water quality and phytoplankton community characteristics.
Alteration in ocular function induced by phenylethylamine analogs of dopamine.

Dopamine (DA) and three methylated analogs (N-methyldopamine, NMDA; N, N-dimethyldopamine, DMDA;N,N-di-n-propyldopamine,DPDA) were examined for effects on intraocular pressure (IOP) and pupil diameter (PD) in normal rabbits, sympathec-tomized (SX) rabbits and rabbits with transected extraocular muscles (EOMX) following topical administration. In normal rabbits, the predominant effect of DA, NMDA and DMDA was transient, unilateral ocular hypertension with minimal effects on PD. In contrast, DPDA produced bilateral ocular hypotension in normal rabbits. DA and NMDA did not produced ocular hypertension in EOMX rabbits indicative of an involvement of extraocular muscles in normal rabbits. In SX rabbits, NMDA produced mydriasis and exaggerated ocular hypertension followed by significant ocular hypotension; the ocular hypotensive phase was antagonized by timolol pretreatment. The ocular hypotensive activity of DPDA seen in normal rabbits was absent in SX rabbits suggestive of a neuronal site of action for DPDA. ...
Relationship uncertainty linkage statistics (RULS): affected relative pair statistics that model relationship uncertainty

Linkage analysis programs invariably assume that the stated familial relationships are correct. Thus, it is common practice to resolve relationship errors by either discarding individuals with erroneous relationships or using an inferred alternative pedigree structure. These approaches are less than ideal because discarding data is wasteful and using inferred data can be statistically unsound. We have developed two linkage statistics that model relationship uncertainty by weighting over the possible true relationships. Simulations of data containing relationship errors were used to assess our statistics and compare them to the maximum-likelihood statistic (MLS) and the Sall non-parametric LOD score using true and discarded (where problematic individuals with erroneous relationships are discarded from the pedigree) structures. We simulated both small pedigree (SP) and large pedigree (LP) data sets typed genome-wide. Both data sets have several underlying true relationships; SP has one apparent relationship—full sibling—and LP has several different apparent relationship types. The results show that for both SP and LP, our relationship uncertainty linkage statistics (RULS) have power nearly as high as the MLS and Sall using the true structure. Also, the RULS have greater power to detect linkage than the MLS and Sall using the discarded structure. For example, for the SP data set and a dominant disease model, both the RULS had power of about 93%, while Sall and MLS have 90% and 83% power on the discarded structure. Thus, our RULS provide a statistically sound and powerful approach to the commonly encountered problem of relationship errors. Genet. Epidemiol. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Effects of abrasion therapy on tears in the avascular region of sheep menisci.

Abstract This study was designed to test the hypothesis that abrasion of the parameniscal synovium aids healing of a stable tear in the avascular region of the meniscus in a sheep model. In six sheep, a 5–7-mm longitudinal fullthickness tear was made in the avascular inner half of the anterior part of the lateral meniscus. The parameniscal synovium was abraded superiorly and inferiorly from the meniscus periphery to the lesion. Three animals in a control group received identical meniscal tears but no abrasion treatment. A harness prevented weight bearing and maintained the knee fully flexed after surgery. Twelve weeks after the operation, no healing was seen in any tears. Histologic examination revealed in both groups increased numbers of dividing chondrocytes on either side of the tear. In the test group, several layers of fibroblasts, which appeared in two menisci to derive from the upper meniscal surface, were seen covering both cut surfaces of the tear. It is concluded that the distance from the periphery to the defect is too far for abrasion therapy to stimulate sufficient cellular ingrowth to facilitate repair of tears in the avascular region of the meniscus.
Response times in level-structured systems

Real-time programs are among the most critical programs in use today, yet they are also among the worst understood and the most difficult to verify. Validation of real-time systems is nonetheless extremely important in view of the high costs associated with failure in typical application areas. We present here a method for deriving response-time properties in complex systems with a level structure based on priority. The method involves a level-by-level examination of the system, in which information distilled from each successive level is used to adjust the results for later levels. The results obtained at each level of the system are not affected by later analyses, which obviates having to consider a complex system as a whole.
Translational energy dependence of O+(4S)+N2→NO++N from thermal energies to 30 eV c.m.

Guided ion beam mass spectrometry is used to examine the kinetic energy dependence of the reaction of ground state atomic oxygen ion with molecular nitrogen. An O+(4S) source which produces less than 0.06% excited states is described. Cross sections for the NO++N product channel decrease with increasing energy below 0.25 eV but increase with energy at higher energies. Analysis of the region above 0.25 eV finds an effective barrier of 0.33±0.08 eV which previous theoretical work suggests is on the N2O+(1 4A‘) hypersurface. Below this barrier, ground state products can only be formed via a spin‐forbidden surface transition. The magnitude and energy dependence of the probability for this transition are in reasonable agreement with a Landau–Zener formalism. These results are compared to previous ion beam, flowing afterglow (FA), and flow/drift tube (FD) studies. Apparent disagreement between the present data and previous FA and FD measurement is shown to be caused primarily by differences in the ion energy di...
Integrated Experimental and Computational Studies of Energy-relevant Interfaces

Abstract We review our highly integrated experimental and simulational studies of energy-relevant fl uid solid interfaces present in subsurface mineral/aqueous electrolyte systems and modern nanostructured capacitative energy storage devices.
A rapid, simple DNA mismatch repair substrate construction method.

A more flexible and higher yielding in vitro DNA mismatch repair (MMR) substrate construction method, which was developed initially by Wang and Hays, is described for the construction of a nucleotide-based chemical mismatch (G/IU) and a G/T mismatch. Our modifications use the combination of two endonuclease enzymes (NheI and BciVI) and two new redesigned plasmids (pWDAH1A and pWDSH1B). In our modified methodology, plasmids are initially digested with the nicking endonucleases, followed by the streptavidin treatment. The mismatch-containing oligo is then annealed to the gap DNA and finally ligated to produce a mismatch-containing DNA substrate. We report a high ligation efficiency (up to 90%) of these mismatch substrates and confirm recognition using a functional assay. These modifications, coupled with the use of the redesigned plasmids, can be applied for the construction of other types of chemically induced mismatches as well as insertion-deletion loops (IDL) for future in vitro studies of MMR processing by our group and others.
A propagated stimulation of DNA synthesis and cell division.

Abstract A wave of stimulation to thymidine incorporation and mitosis in lens epithelium, initiated by a small mechanical injury, has been characterized. The wave is propagated at the approximate rate of 17 μ/hr during the period of 24–48 hr following injury. The wave is, in some cases, followed by a second wave of incorporation and mitosis. The area of cells stimulated is relatively large compared to the size of the original mechanical injury itself. The appearance of paired radioactive daughter nuclei at approximately 10 hours or more following incorporation of 3H-thymidine indicates that the majority of cells which incorporate thymidine subsequently undergo division.
In situ freezing of the common carotid artery and sagittal sinus of the dog.

Summary Data are presented on the effect of the application of a liquid nitrogen cooled probe to the common carotid artery and the sagittal sinus of the dog. Temperatures ranging between -175° and -195.8°C were achieved. Gross observations indicate cessation of flow during the period of application of the probe. Microscopic studies of the vessels showed no significant injury either to the carotid artery or to the sagittal sinus when the probe was applied 4 to 5 min. Neerosis and thrombus formation were noted in the sagittal sinus when the probe was applied for 10 min.
Free amino acid patterns of certain tissues from potassium-deficient dogs.

SummaryTracings of the amino acid patterns obtained chromatographically on the tungstic acid acid filtrates of skeletal muscle, left ventricle and kidney from normal and potassium-deficient dogs have been presented. The amino acid patterns of the tissues from control and potassium-deficient dogs were found to be identical, even in the presence of marked changes in the electrolyte compositions of plasma and skeletal muscle. Differences between amino acid patterns of the skeletal muscle from potassium-deficient dogs and of the skeletal muscle from potassium-deficient rats previously reported were pointed out.
Regulation of bacterial growth.

Is the control of bacterial metabolism so complex? The answer can be found in a simple experiment. Two cultures of bacteria are grown in different mediums. One contains as the carbon and nitrogen sources a mixture of amino acids, while the other contains only glucose and ammonia, so that the cells must synthesize all of the amino acids. The results show that insofar as the cells in both cultures grow at comparable rates, they will have the same composition in terms of DNA, RNA, and protein ( 30 ). To explain this phenomena I have argued that through the control mechanisms responsible for the distribution of substrates in intermediary metabolism, the substrates of protein synthesis are produced at concentrations and rates commensurate with the ability of the environment to support growth. The provision of these substrates relative to the ability of the protein forming system to utilize them regulates the synthesis of ribosomal and transfer RNA, which, after adjustment for various modulating influences, such as nonfunctioning ribosomes or ribosomal RNA turnover, brings the number of functioning ribosomes to a point in keeping with the provision of external nutrients. The synthesis of messenger (or total) RNA, ribosomal proteins, and DNA, and the process of cell division, for example, are subject to their own controls, but through the burden they each place on intermediary metabolism, they provide a means for partitioning the cell's metabolic resources. It might be noted that this view may not be very far from the idea once held that the rate at which each of the transfer RNA's was changed by amino acids regulate the synthesis of bacterial RNA, but growth regulation is clearly more complicated than implied by that model ( 76 ).
“Self-Corralling” Nanorods under an Applied Electric Field

Producing densely packed arrays of nanoscopic anisotropic objects, while necessary for applications in photovoltaic and field emission devices, presents considerable challenges. Here, we present findings on the phase separation of ligand-functionalized nanorods in a polymer matrix under an applied electric field. Densely packed hexagonal arrays of nanorods are produced by this method, where the rods are oriented in the direction of the applied field. Minimization of interfacial energy between the array of nanorods and the surrounding polymer serves to corral the nanorods into the densely packed arrays observed. These findings carry implications toward advancing organic-inorganic heterojunction photovoltaic devices that are expected to benefit from the oriented, densely packed ordered arrays of nanorods produced here.
Growth and growth hormone in children born small for gestational age.

UNLABELLED Although most children born small for gestational age catch up in growth by age 2 y, up to 14% remain more than 2 standard deviations below the mean for height. Recombinant growth hormone is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration and by the European Agency for Evaluation of Medicinal Products for the treatment of children born small for gestational age who fail to manifest catch-up growth by 2 y or 4 y, respectively. CONCLUSION We conclude from clinical studies that growth hormone therapy can induce catch-up growth in these children.
Effects of Processing Methods and Agronomic Variables on Carotene Contents in Forages and Predicting Carotene in Alfalfa Hay with Near-Infrared-Reflectance Spectroscopy,

Abstract Six studies were to determine effects of drying method, stage of maturity, freezing and thawing, and five agronomic variables on carotene contents of forages and to evaluate near infrared reflectance spectroscopy for predicting carotene content in baled alfalfa hay. Microwave dried samples had the highest carotene among all drying methods tested. As drying time increased, carotene decreased. Storage in a refrigerator at 2°C for 3 to 4 wk reduced carotene. The higher the initial carotene, the greater was the decrease. Thawing caused the most degradation of carotene, with the reduction continuing as thawing time was extended. Carotene contents were not changed if fresh samples were frozen or refrigerated for 24 h or held for 4 h at room temperature and light. Carotene was affected by species, light, nitrogen fertilization, and interaction of light × nitrogen fertilization. Prediction equations by infrared reflectance with correlations were developed for carotene. Correlations tended to increase if samples were from the same sources and preparation methods. The microwave-dried samples did not fit the equation when combined with samples from other methods. Seventy-eight calibration and 29 unknown samples of field-cured, baled alfalfa hay from four intermountain states were collected. Splitting calibration data into low and high carotene gave satisfactory predictions for the unknowns.
Bomber design trends

Some basic trends in bomber aircraft are traced from the pre-World War I era to the present time. The historic review includes bombers of many countries. The primary discussion, however, will be based on U.S. bomber programs and, to the extent possible, on USSR bomber programs. The bomber aircraft will be examined in terms of performance and mission capability.Characteristics will include power or thrust loading, wing loading, maximum speed, cruising speed, weight and weight distribution, and payload. These trends can be used to indicate the rationale for certain design types. Performance characteristics can be used to indicate potential mission objectives. The overall design trends should be useful in revealing the influence of mission objectives, the influence of advanced technology and, in turn, may be useful in predicting likely future trends.
Catechol-O-methyltransferase: Effects of the val108met polymorphism on protein turnover in human cells

A single nucleotide polymorphism in the human COMT (catechol-O-methyltransferase) gene has been associated with increased risk for breast cancer and several CNS diseases and disorders. The G to A polymorphism causes a valine (val) to methionine (met) substitution at codon 108 soluble - (S)/158 membrane - (MB)-COMT, generating alleles encoding high and low-activity forms of the enzyme, COMT H and COMT L, respectively. Tissues and cells with a COMT LL genotype have decreased COMT activity compared to COMT HH cells. Previously, we reported that the decreased activity was due to decreased amounts of S-COMT L protein in human hepatocytes. In this study, we investigated the role of S-COMT protein synthesis and turnover as determinates of reduced COMT protein in COMT LL compared to COMT HH cells. No association between S-COMT protein synthesis and COMT genotype was detected. Using a pulse-chase protocol, the half-life of S-COMT H was determined to be 4.7 days, which was considerably longer than expected from the half-lives of other phase 2 enzyme proteins. The half-life of S-COMT L compared to S-COMT H protein was significantly shorter at 3.0 days, but the difference was affected by the medium used during the chase period. These results suggest that increased turnover may contribute to reduced COMT activity in cells and tissues from COMT LL individuals. Subtle differences appear to be able to affect the stability of the S-COMT L protein, and this may contribute to the differences observed in epidemiological studies on the association of this polymorphism with breast cancer risk.
QoRTs: a comprehensive toolset for quality control and data processing of RNA-Seq experiments.

Background High-throughput next-generation RNA sequencing has matured into a viable and powerful method for detecting variations in transcript expression and regulation. Proactive quality control is of critical importance as unanticipated biases, artifacts, or errors can potentially drive false associations and lead to flawed results.
Angiographic classification of ovarian artery-to-uterine artery anastomoses: initial observations in uterine fibroid embolization.

PURPOSE: To prospectively study and classify the anastomoses between the ovarian and uterine arteries in women undergoing uterine fibroid embolization, and to compare the presence of such with procedural failures and premature menopause. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Angiographic ovarian artery–to–uterine artery anastomoses were studied in 76 consecutive patients undergoing uterine fibroid embolization. Mean patient age was 44.7 years (range, 29–56 years). Clinical follow-up consisted of a standard questionnaire. Procedural failure and complications were compared with the presence of various types of ovarian artery–to–uterine artery connections. RESULTS: Three types of anastomoses were identified. In type I (33 [21.7%] of 152 arteries), flow from the ovarian artery to the uterus was through anastomoses with the main uterine artery. In type II (six arteries [3.9%]), the ovarian artery supplied the fibroids directly. In type III (10 arteries [6.6%]), the major blood supply to the ovary was from the uterine artery....
Elecsys NT-ProBNP and BNP assays: are there analytically and clinically relevant differences?

Abstract Background B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP; 77-108 amino acids) and its N-terminal (1-76 amino acids) counterpart, NT-proBNP, are cardiac biomarkers that have been established for the assessment of left ventricular dysfunction and congestive heart failure and provide prognostic and risk stratification information for patients with acute coronary syndrome. Various automated immunoassays currently are available for the measurement of these natriuretic peptides, but there are significant analytical differences, especially between BNP and NT-proBNP. Methods and Results Recently published methods and results were reviewed. Conclusion Although there are significant pre-analytical and analytical differences between the Triage BNP and Elecsys NT-proBNP and other BNP methods, they do not translate to clinically significant differences in their diagnostic and prognostic application in the assessment of systolic heart failure and risk stratification of patients with acute coronary syndrome. However, there appears to be some evidence that suggests that NT-proBNP may have an advantage in the detection of patients with mild or asymptomatic heart disease.
Risk factors for infection and amputation following open, combat-related calcaneal fractures.

Background: High-energy open calcaneal fractures are severe injuries complicated by high rates of infection, uncertain functional outcomes, and frequent need for later amputation. Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of 102 consecutive combat-related open calcaneal fractures. Patient demographics, injury mechanisms, fracture and wound characteristics, associated fractures, and methods of fracture fixation were reviewed to determine risk factors for eventual amputation or infection. Results: Eighty-nine patients, with a mean age of twenty-six years, sustained 102 open calcaneal fractures (thirteen bilateral). After a mean follow-up of four years (range, five to ninety-two months), 42% (forty-three limbs) underwent amputation. A delayed amputation (more than twelve weeks from the time of injury) was performed in 15% (fifteen) of 102 open calcaneal fractures. In a multivariate Cox proportional-hazards survival model with time to amputation as the end point, the blast mechanism of injury, plantar wound location, larger size of open wound (in square centimeters), and escalating Gustilo and Anderson classification types (p < 0.05 for all) were predictive of eventual amputation. At the time of the final follow-up, patients who had undergone amputation had lower visual analogue scale scores for pain (2.1 compared with 4.0; p < 0.0001) and higher Tegner activity levels (5.4 compared with 3.5; p < 0.0001) than limb salvage patients. Conclusions: Lower-extremity amputation following open calcaneal fractures is predicted by the injury mechanism, wound location and size, and open fracture type and severity. After short-term follow-up, patients with open calcaneal fractures eventually requiring amputation exhibit improved pain and activity levels compared with patients with continued, ostensibly successful limb salvage. Level of Evidence: Prognostic Level II. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Histidine Kinases: Introductory Remarks

Publisher Summary Histidine kinases (HKs) are the major players in signal transduction in prokaryotes as Ser/Thr/Tyr protein kinases are in the eukaryotes. This chapter highlights a number of unique features of HKs and the systems regulated by their networks. Bacteria are always exposed to environmental changes and to survive under such conditions, bacteria adapt their signal transducing system, using HK as sensors. Upon sensing the environmental signals, HKs unique to individual external signals transduce them to downstream factors called response regulators, which then promote necessary reactions for cells to acclimate to the new environmental condition. During this process, the response regulators (RR) is usually involved in the regulation of specific gene expression, interacting directly with the promoter regions to set new cellular physiology adapting to new environmental changes. The signal transduction system using a HK and a RR is collectively called "two-component system" as it uses two distinctive components, HK and RR.
Increased Expression of Peripheral Blood Leukocyte Genes Implicate CD14+ Tissue Macrophages in Cellular Intestine Allograft Rejection

Recurrent rejection shortens graft survival after intestinal transplantation (ITx) in children, most of whom also experience early acute cellular rejection (rejectors). To elucidate mechanisms common to early and recurrent rejection, we used a test cohort of 20 recipients to test the hypothesis that candidate peripheral blood leukocyte genes that trigger rejection episodes would be evident late after ITx during quiescent periods in genome-wide gene expression analysis and would achieve quantitative real-time PCR replication pre-ITx (another quiescent period) and in the early post-ITx period during first rejection episodes. Eight genes were significantly up-regulated among rejectors in the late post-ITx and pre-ITx periods, compared with nonrejectors: TBX21 , CCL5 , GNLY , SLAMF7 , TGFBR3 , NKG7 , SYNE1 , and GK5 . Only CCL5 was also up-regulated in the early post-ITx period. Among resting peripheral blood leukocyte subsets in randomly sampled nonrejectors, CD14 + monocytes expressed the CCL5 protein maximally. Compared with nonrejectors, rejectors demonstrated higher counts of both circulating CCL5 + CD14 + monocytes and intragraft CD14 + monocyte-derived macrophages in immunohistochemistry of postperfusion and early post-ITx biopsies from the test and an independent replication cohort. Donor-specific alloreactivity measured with CD154 + T-cytotoxic memory cells correlated with the CCL5 gene and intragraft CD14 + monocyte-derived macrophages at graft reperfusion and early post-ITx. CCL5 gene up-regulation and CD14 + macrophages likely prime cellular ITx rejection. Infiltration of reperfused intestine allografts with CD14 + macrophages may predict rejection events.
Power Management of Aggregate Electric Water Heater Loads by Voltage Control

This paper discusses a voltage-control strategy for power management of aggregate residential electric water heater (EWH) load. It is shown that by proper control of EWH operating voltage, the aggregate EWH power demand during peak-load hours can be reduced without necessarily sacrificing customers' comfort level.
Asymptotic Capacity and Precoding Designs for Correlated Multi-Hop MIMO Channels

Asymptotic capacity and precoding design are presented in the literature for a special case of wireless correlated multi-hop multi-input multi-output (MIMO) networks, where the channel has only white noise at the destination, no noise at all relay levels, and the number of antennas is very large. This particular channel assumption is not always feasible in compact MIMO design with space limitation and mutual interference. For the sake of generality, by invoking Karush-Kuhn-Tucker (KKT) condition for the optimality of convex programming, in this paper we propose asymptotic capacity expressions and precoding designs for generally correlated wireless multi-hop MIMO channels. The channel at each hop is spatially correlated, the source symbols are mutually correlated, and the additive Gaussian noise at each hop is colored. Simulation results shows that the proposed precoding designs can significantly increase the end-to-end mutual information while it does not require resources of the system such as transmission power or bandwidth.
Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole in children: pharmacokinetics and clinical studies.

Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMZ) was administered to five pediatric patients with defined infections. The pharmacokinetics were studied by measurement of levels of the drug in blood and urine during the first 96 hr of therapy. The five organisms tested were sensitive to the combination therapy. Therapeutically effective levels of TMP-SMZ were readily achieved in children with medication administered at 8-hr intervals. Serum ratios of SMZ to TMP approached 20:1 and were maintained after the first 24 hr of therapy. Extensive experience in adults with the absorption, distribution, and excretion of trimethoprimsulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMZ) has provided information on the levels of the drug in blood and urine that are associated with clinical efficacy in a variety of infections. The present pharmacokinetic studies in children were designed to establish the therapeutic regimen that would produce similar levels in blood and urine to those seen in
White University Students' Responses to Societal Racism A Qualitative Investigation

The purpose of this investigation was to extend earlier conceptual and empirical literature on the ways in which White individuals respond to societal racism. To this end, the authors conducted in-depth interviews to examine 11 midwestern, non-Hispanic, White university students' reactions and experiences related to individual and institutional forms of racism perpetrated against people of color. We used the consensual qualitative research method to analyze these data. Results suggested that White students varied in their understanding of and responses to racism. Three topic domains, each consisting of a number of subcategories, reflected participants' varied responses to racism: (a) affective, (b) social, and (c) cognitive. Findings add to the existing literature by identifying in greater depth the multiple ways in which dominant group members respond to societal racism. Limitations and future research directions are discussed.
Statistical-mechanical analytical equation of state for fluid mixtures

A new analytical equation of state for fluid mixtures is presented, which is both simple and accurate enough to describe the thermodynamic properties of a general fluid mixture over its entire dens...
Frequency spectra of the first heart sound and of the aortic component of the second heart sound in patients with degenerated porcine bioprosthetic valves

To determine the usefulness of the frequency of heart sounds in the assessment of porcine bioprosthetic valve degeneration, frequency spectra of phonocardiograms of the first heart sound and the aortic component of the second sound were analyzed in 31 patients with degenerated porcine bioprosthetic valves. Comparisons were made with 35 control patients whose valves were inserted 1 month or less. Among 23 patients with degenerated porcine bioprosthetic valves in the mitral position, the dominant frequency of the first heart sound was 95 +/- 11 Hz, which exceeded the first sound in 18 controls (51 +/- 3 Hz) (p less than 0.01). The degenerated mitral porcine bioprosthetic valves of 14 patients showed calcification or fibrosis and the first heart sound in these patients was 115 +/- 16 Hz, which exceeded that of control subjects (p less than 0.001). The degenerated mitral porcine bioprosthetic valves of 9 patients showed torn leaflets only, and the first heart sound in these patients was 64 +/- 9 Hz, which did not differ from that of control subjects. In the aortic position, 8 valves were degenerated and the aortic component of the second sound was 109 +/- 12 Hz, which was higher than that in 17 control subjects (63 +/- 4 Hz) (p less than 0.001). Only 2 of these degenerated valves showed tears unaccompanied by calcific deposits or fibrosis, and the frequencies were comparable to that of control subjects. These observations indicate that the frequency of heart sounds in patients with degenerated porcine bioprosthetic valves becomes abnormally elevated when degeneration is accompanied by calcification or fibrosis, which causes the cusps to stiffen.