cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Syntheses and Characterization of Gold(III) Tetradentate Schiff Base Complexes. X-ray Crystal Structures of [Au(sal2pn)]Cl·2.5H2O and [Au(sal2en)]PF6

A number of gold(III) complexes containing tetradentate Schiff base ligands have been synthesized and characterized. Gold(III) forms four-coordinate square planar complexes with these ligands. These complexes have been characterized by their elemental analyses and UV−visible, infrared, NMR, and mass spectra. Preliminary radiochemical studies with Au-198 show that these complexes are also formed at the tracer level from (Bu4N)-[198AuCl4]. [Au(sal2pn)]Cl (sal2pn = N,N‘-propylenebis(salicylideneimine)), AuC17H16N2O2Cl·2.5H2O, cystallizes from acetonitrile in the triclinic space group P1 with a = 6.6646(8) A, b = 10.2788(13) A, c = 14.2128(18) A, α = 70.415(2)°, β = 77.705(2)°, γ = 86.777(2)°, Z = 2, R = 0.0286, and Rw = 0.0722. [Au(sal2en)]PF6 (sal2en = N,N‘-ethylenebis(salicylideneimine)), AuC16H14N2O2PF6, crystallizes from ethanol in the triclinic space group P1 with a = 7.2730(9) A, b = 10.9930(14) A, c = 12.1882(16) A, α = 112.472(2)°, β = 93.631(2)°, γ = 98.251(2)°, Z = 2, R = 0.0365, and Rw = 0.0995.
Compliance with anti-reflux therapy in patients with otolaryngologic manifestations of gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Objectives: The otolaryngologic manifestations of gastroesophageal reflux include sore throat, throat clearing, sensation of postnasal drip, hoarseness, and globus. This constellation of laryngeal and pharyngeal symptoms can be referred to as laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR). Many patients with LPR are treated empirically and the results are often rewarding. The objective of this study is to evaluate compliance with antireflux therapy in this patient population. Study Design: A prospective analysis of 30 patients referred to an otolaryngology clinic for the above symptoms. Methods: The patients were treated for LPR using a standardized behavior modification form in combination with medical management. Patient compliance was followed with a patient questionnaire and evaluation of medication renewal from pharmacy records. Results: The patients were followed for an average of 4 months and 80% reported an improvement of their symptoms. Evaluation of patient questionnaires revealed that 50% of patients reported taking their medications as prescribed. Compliance varied widely with regard to behavioral modifications. The degree of symptomatic improvement was significantly correlated with overall compliance with both medications and behavioral changes (Pearson correlation coefficient, P < .05). The individual behavioral changes that were significantly correlated with the reduction of symptoms were avoidance of food and liquid before sleep and elevation of the head of bed, but not food habits. Conclusions: The treatment plan for gastroesophageal reflux disease requires behavioral modifications and prescription medications that many patients may find difficult to follow. However, those patients who comply with the treatment plan can be expected to have an improvement of their symptoms. Furthermore, simplifying the treatment regimen including those elements most correlated with symptomatic improvement may increase patient compliance.
Abstract 3347: L14R8, a Pac derivative, induces casapase-3 mediated apoptosis in mantle cell lymphoma.

The resistance of cancer cells to natural apoptotic signals is pivotal for their survival and is typically ruled by either up- or down-regulation or mutations of key proteins in the apoptotic cascade. Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is an incurable B-cell non-Hodgkin9s malignancy and expresses high levels of anti-apoptotic proteins resulting in survival advantage. Given the potential role(s) of pro-apoptotic compounds for treating cancer, unremitting efforts are in use to develop therapeutics that target specific proteins in the apoptotic cascade. Activation of zymogen procaspase-3 to caspase-3 is the hallmark feature of both extrinsic and intrinsic cell death pathways. MCL cell lines, Granta-519, JeKo and Mino possess high levels of procaspase-3 thereby providing a rational approach for using agents that can activate procaspase-3. L14R8 is a novel and potent Procaspase Activating Compound (Pac) analogue that forms a stable complex with Zn2+ ion. It directly activates caspase-3 via chelating Zn2+ thereby removes Zn2+-mediated inhibition of caspase-3 activation. In this study, three MCL cells lines, Granta-519, JeKo and Mino were treated for 24 hr with different concentrations of L14R8 and their respective IC50 values were determined (8, 9 and 11 μM) by Annexin V-PI assay. To determine mechanism of cell death, these cell lines were treated with L14R8 (10 μM), Pac1a (10 μM; an inactive analogue) or staurosporin (100 nM; used as a positive control) for 24 hr either alone or in presence of Zn2+ (100 μM; ZnSO4) and cell death was evaluated by FACS analysis. L14R8 treatment resulted in significant cell death (p Citation Format: Aloke Sarker, Jefferson Chen, Sattva S. Neelapu, Kumudha Balakrishnan, Varsha Gandhi. L14R8, a Pac derivative, induces casapase-3 mediated apoptosis in mantle cell lymphoma. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3347. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-3347
The partial purification from calf serum of a fraction with multiplication-stimulating activity for chicken fibroblasts in cell culture and with non-suppressible insulin-like activity.

A multiplication-stimulating activity for chicken embryo fibroblasts has been purified approximately 6000-fold from calf serum by a three step procedure. The partially purified multiplication-stimulating activity stimulated DNA synthesis, mitosis, and growth of cultured chicken embryo fibroblasts. In addition, the active step 3 material was shown to have non-suppressible insulin-like activity and to be an inhibitor of trypsin activity. The activity appeared to be associated with a small protein and was heat stable, but sensitive to dithiothreitol and to periodate.
The trouble with truth: Anthropology's epistemological hypochondria

An earlier version of this paper was presented at the AAA meeting in November 2003, in a panel on ‘Anthropological evidence and its uses’, sponsored by the Wenner-Gren Foundation. My thanks to Jane Cowan, Nigel Rapport and an anonymous reviewer for their comments.
Invited Commentary: Insulin Resistance Syndrome? Syndrome X? Multiple Metabolic Syndrome? A Syndrome At All? Factor Analysis Reveals Patterns in the Fabric of Correlated Metabolic Risk Factors

Factor analysis has emerged as a useful method for understanding patterns underlying the co-occurrence of metabolic risk factors for both type 2 diabetes and atherosclerosis--often referred to as "insulin resistance syndrome." In factor analysis of data on 322 healthy elderly people from the Cardiovascular Health Study, Sakkinen et al. (Am J Epidemiol 2000;152:897-907) confirmed findings from a dozen prior studies that as many as four distinct physiologic domains comprise the syndrome, with a unifying role for markers of insulin resistance. With the addition of markers of hemostasis and inflammation, they also found that impaired fibrinolysis and endothelial dysfunction are central features of the syndrome, while inflammation is only weakly linked to insulin resistance through associations with obesity.
The role of parent depression in interactions between mothers and their clinic-referred children.

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between parent depression and each of three dimensions of interaction between parents and their clinic-referred children: child behavior, parent behavior, and parent perceptions of their children. Thirty-one parent-child pairs served as subjects. All children had been referred to a clinic for treatment of noncompliant behavior problems. The parents were classified into one of three depression levels according to their scores on the Beck Depression Inventory. Parents completed questionnaires concerning their child's adjustment and collected data on the daily occurrence of selected child behavior problems. Independent observers coded parent-child interactions during four home observations. The results indicated that maternal scores on the Beck Depression Inventory were related to parent perceptions of child adjustment but not to parent or child behavior as collected by independent observers or child behaviors collected by the parents.
Relatively low levels of calpain expression in juvenile rat correlate with less neuronal apoptosis after spinal cord injury.

Abstract Approximately 5% of spinal cord injuries in the US occur in patients younger than 16 years. These young patients have an increased mortality within the 24 h after trauma but have a greater capacity for functional recovery than adults, suggesting age-related differences in injury tolerance. Unfortunately, the response of the developing cord to secondary injury has not been thoroughly investigated. Calpain, a Ca 2+ -dependent protease, has been implicated in the pathogenesis of spinal cord injury (SCI) in rats. Our current investigation revealed that following SCI, calpain upregulation was qualitatively less in the 21-day-old rats than in adult rats, as shown by immunofluorescent labeling. Decreased levels of TUNEL+ neurons were also noted in juvenile rat spinal cord, indicating that the developing cord may have an increased resistance to injury.
The Influence of Gender and Socioeconomic Factors on Hispanic/White Differences in Body Mass Index

Background and methods.This article examines the effects of gender and socioeconomic factors on ethnic differences in body mass index (BMI) using a matched-pairs design of 688 pairs of Hispanics (principally Mexican American) and whites. Subjects, ages 25–74, were drawn from five population-based surveys conducted from 1979 to 1990 in four northern California cities.Results.Hispanic women and men both had significantly higher BMI levels than the white women and men with whom they were matched (P< 0.001). These ethnic differences persisted across every level of education for both women and men, with the magnitude of the difference ranging from 0.9 BMI units (between the most educated Hispanic and white men) to 2.9 BMI units (between the least educated Hispanic and white women). The highest prevalence of overweight was among the least educated Hispanic women (61.1%) and Hispanic men (48.4%). The higher BMI levels of Hispanic women and men relative to their white counterparts were not explained by age, gender, education, city of residence, time of survey, or language spoken in a multiple regression model. Hispanic women and men both reported higher desired body weight (height standardized) than white women and men, indicating a possible contribution of cultural factors to the ethnic differences in overweight.Conclusions.These findings provide insight into the greater prevalence of overweight in Hispanic relative to white populations as well as guidance for weight-loss interventions tailored to low socioeconomic groups.
SO(10) vortices and the electroweak phase transition

Abstract We examine the effects of electroweak symmetry breaking (ESB) on vortex excitations appearing in an SO(10) grand unified model. The vortices are topologically stable before and after the inclusion of ESB, but the corresponding minimal energy configurations differ for the two cases. Consequently, the vortex mass per unit length and dynamics differ for the two cases. Also, after ESB, certain directions in the internal symmetry space cannot be globally defined in the nontrivial topological sector, contrary to the case before ESB. Higher vortex excitations exist in the model and are known to have zero-energy bound states with fermions. It is also known that such states induce fractional fermion numbers to the soliton. We find that the existence and number of zero-mode states depends, in general, upon whether ESB is present or not. As a result, certain vortex excitations can have half-integer-valued baryon number before ESB and integer-valued baryon number after. Consequently, if such vortices were present during the electroweak phase transition in the early universe, they may have induced baryon or antibaryon production.
Reporting and analyzing statistical uncertainties in Monte Carlo-based treatment planning

Purpose: To investigate methods of reporting and analyzing statistical uncertainties in doses to targets and normal tissues in Monte Carlo (MC)–based treatment planning. Methods and Materials: Methods for quantifying statistical uncertainties in dose, such as uncertainty specification to specific dose points, or to volume-based regions, were analyzed in MC-based treatment planning for 5 lung cancer patients. The effect of statistical uncertainties on target and normal tissue dose indices was evaluated. The concept of uncertainty volume histograms for targets and organs at risk was examined, along with its utility, in conjunction with dose volume histograms, in assessing the acceptability of the statistical precision in dose distributions. The uncertainty evaluation tools were extended to four-dimensional planning for application on multiple instances of the patient geometry. All calculations were performed using the Dose Planning Method MC code. Results: For targets, generalized equivalent uniform doses and mean target doses converged at 150 million simulated histories, corresponding to relative uncertainties of less than 2% in the mean target doses. For the normal lung tissue (a volume-effect organ), mean lung dose and normal tissue complication probability converged at 150 million histories despite the large range in the relative organ uncertainty volume histograms. For “serial” normal tissues such as the spinal cord, large fluctuations exist in point dose relative uncertainties. Conclusions: The tools presented here provide useful means for evaluating statistical precision in MC-based dose distributions. Tradeoffs between uncertainties in doses to targets, volume-effect organs, and “serial” normal tissues must be considered carefully in determining acceptable levels of statistical precision in MC-computed dose distributions.
Stimulation of lymphokine production by teleocidin, aplysiatoxin, and debromoaplysiatoxin.

Abstract Previous studies showed that the tumor-promoting phorbol ester 12- O -tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) and several structurally related tumor-promoting compounds stimulate lymphocytes to produce immune interferon (IFN-γ) and interleukin 2 (IL-2). This study shows that three compounds structurally unrelated to TPA, previously shown to mimic TPA in some other biological activities, are similar to TPA in stimulating IFN-γ and Il-2 production in cultures of human peripheral blood lymphocytes. The production of another lymphokine, termed lymphotoxin (LT), was also enhanced by TPA and the other three compounds examined. Maximal enhancement of lymphokine production was observed in cultures costimulated with TPA or one of the other tested compounds and phytohemagglutinin (PHA). TPA was separated from IFN-γ during a multistep purification procedure.
Unveiling the Molecular Clock in the Presence of Recombination

In a recent letter in Molecular Biology and Evolution, Schierup and Hein (2000a) showed that the likelihood ratio test (LRT) of the molecular clock (Felsenstein 1981) ‘‘wrongly’’ rejects the clock hypothesis when recombination has occurred. However, this result should not be taken as a failure of the LRT. Because in the presence of recombination often there is not one single tree describing the history of the sequences, but several, the LRT is correctly rejecting the actual null hypothesis tested, that is, that the data are evolving under a clock on one single tree. To appropriately test the clock hypothesis in the presence of recombination, we need to use a test independent of tree topology. Muse and Weir (1992) proposed a triplet likelihood ratio test to test for equality of evolutionary of rates for two species at a time using a third species as an outgroup (to avoid confusion, I will call this test the relative-rate test [RRT]). The RRT is therefore independent of topology and might be used for potentially recombinant sequences if an outgroup is selected which did not recombine with the ingroup. Here, the performance of the RRT with recombinant data is presented. Recombinant alignments were simulated using the coalescent with recombination (Hudson 1983). A program written in C for this purpose is available from the author. Alignments of 11 sequences (10 recombining ingroup and one nonrecombining outgroup) with 1,000 nt were evolved with a molecular clock under the JukesCantor (JC) model of evolution (Jukes and Cantor 1969). For each level of recombination and diversity, 1,000 replicates were generated. A maximum-likelihood (ML) tree was estimated for each simulated data set under the JC1G model of evolution in PAUP* (Swofford 1998) without assuming a clock. The G distribution for rate variation among sites (Yang 1993) was included because it is known that recombination introduces such rate heterogeneity (Schierup and Hein 2000b), and the likelihood increases significantly when this variation is accounted for. For the ML tree, the likelihood under the unconstrained model, where each lineage is allowed to have its own rate (alternative hypothesis), was compared with the likelihood obtained when the molecular clock was enforced (null hypothesis). If the data are evolving under a clock, the difference in likelihood between these two models should be close to zero. To establish statis-
Electromagnetically engendered convection in electromagnetophoresis

Abstract Convection currents are engendered in a cell traversed by an electric current and a non-parallel magnetic field. In the case considered the fields are mutually perpendicular and at least one of the two fields is non-homogeneous. The convection engendered by non-uniformities in the fields employed results from non-uniformities in the electromagnetic force density and is analogous to thermal convection in a gravitation. An expression is derived for average speed of convection. The ratio of this speed to the speed of electromagnetophoretic migration of a small sphere of arbitrary radius is determined. The measure of precision is given for the dimensions of a migration cell which must be maintained to avoid masking the migration effect by convection in an unstabilized liquid column. The possibility of compensating for non-uniformities in the current distribution by introducing a non-uniformity in the magnetic field is discussed.
Alcohol availability and domestic violence

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship among sociodemographic variables, alcohol outlet density, and rate of domestic violence in New Jersey. Data were obtained for the 223 largest municipalities in the state and were examined using factor analysis and bivariate and multivariate analyses. Three sociodemographic factors were extracted through factor analysis. These explained 58% of the variance among municipalities in rates of domestic violence. One factor--termed social disadvantage--explained the greatest amount of unique variance (42%). Alcohol outlet density added nothing to the sociodemographic model and did not interact with any of the three sociodemographic factors. The findings show that, in the state of New Jersey, higher levels of alcohol outlet density are not geographically associated with higher rates of domestic violence. These findings may be due to limitations in the data sets employed in the study, limitations of the macrolevel analysis employed, and/or the complex nature of the relationship between alcohol use and domestic violence.
Intercalation vortices and related microstructural features in the friction-stir welding of dissimilar metals

Dissimilar plates (0.6 cm thick) of copper and 6061 aluminum alloy; and 2024 aluminum alloy and 6061 aluminum alloy were friction-stir welded at various rotation speeds (400–1200 rpm) and traverse speeds of 1 to 3 mm/s, and produced variations of vortex and other swirl-like intercalations, especially near the weld-zone/work-piece interface. These vortex-like structures are composed of dynamically recrystallized, fine-grained intercalation microstructures which have been observed by optical metallography, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. They are similar to those characterizing mechanical alloying. Such microstructures are especially fascinating because although they resemble vortex instabilities which occur in turbulent fluids, they are formed by extreme deformation in the solid state since centerline temperatures through the weld zone are about 420°C, or ∼0.7 TM in the 6061 aluminum system.
Characterization of the mRNA Capping Apparatus of Candida albicans

The mRNA capping apparatus of the pathogenic fungus Candida albicans consists of three components: a 520- amino acid RNA triphosphatase (CaCet1p), a 449-amino acid RNA guanylyltransferase (Cgt1p), and a 474-amino acid RNA (guanine-N7-)-methyltransferase (Ccm1p). The fungal guanylyltransferase and methyltransferase are structurally similar to their mammalian counterparts, whereas the fungal triphosphatase is mechanistically and structurally unrelated to the triphosphatase of mammals. Hence, the triphosphatase is an attractive antifungal target. Here we identify a biologically active C-terminal domain of CaCet1p from residues 202 to 520. We find that CaCet1p function in vivo requires the segment from residues 202 to 256 immediately flanking the catalytic domain from 257 to 520. Genetic suppression data implicate the essential flanking segment in the binding of CaCet1p to the fungal guanylyltransferase. Deletion analysis of the Candida guanylyltransferase demarcates an N-terminal domain, Cgt1(1-387)p, that suffices for catalytic activity in vitro and for cell growth. An even smaller domain, Cgt1(1-367)p, suffices for binding to the guanylyltransferase docking site on yeast RNA triphosphatase. Deletion analysis of the cap methyltransferase identifies a C-terminal domain, Ccm1(137-474)p, as being sufficient for cap methyltransferase function in vivo and in vitro. Ccm1(137-474)p binds in vitro to synthetic peptides comprising the phosphorylated C-terminal domain of the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II. Binding is enhanced when the C-terminal domain is phosphorylated on both Ser-2 and Ser-5 of the YSPTSPS heptad repeat. We show that the entire three-component Saccharomyces cerevisiae capping apparatus can be replaced by C. albicans enzymes. Isogenic yeast cells expressing "all-Candida" versus "all-mammalian" capping components can be used to screen for cytotoxic agents that specifically target the fungal capping enzymes.
Association of childhood sexual abuse with obesity in a community sample of lesbians.

OBJECTIVE: Our goal was to examine the association between childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and obesity in a community-based sample of self-identified lesbians. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: A diverse sample of women who self-identified as lesbian was recruited from the greater Chicago metropolitan area. Women (n=416) were interviewed about sexual abuse experiences that occurred before the age of 18. Self-reported height and weight were used to calculate BMI and categorize women as normal-weight (or=40 kg/m2). The relationship between CSA and BMI was examined using multinomial logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Overall, 31% of women in the sample reported CSA, and 57% had BMI>or=25.0 kg/m2. Mean BMI was 27.8 (+/-7.2) kg/m2 and was significantly higher among women who reported CSA than among those who did not report CSA (29.4 vs. 27.1, p Language: en
Unlocking Bitumen in Thin and/or Lower Pressure Pay Using Cross SAGD (XSAGD)

Cross SAGD (XSAGD) is similar to SAGD except that the horizontal injection wells are placed perpendicular to the horizontal production wells. Some completion restriction near the points where the wells cross can be included in the initial well completions or added later to limit short-circuiting of steam between the wells. The concept of XSAGD as applied in a 20-metre-thick homogeneous sand was introduced in the November 2005 International Thermal Operations and Heavy Oil Symposium in Calgary, Alberta. Expanding beyond that presentation, this paper describes simulations showing that XSAGD offers advantages over SAGD for developing thin and/or low-pressured bitumen sands. By combining both gravity drainage and lateral displacement, XSAGD can accelerate recovery, reduce steam requirements and improve economic potential compared to SAGD. Simulation results are discussed comparing SAGD and XSAGD performance for pay thickness from 10-40 metres, for pressures ranging from 1,500 - 4,500 kPa, and for homogeneous and heterogeneous pay.
Comparison of wireless capsule endoscopy and conventional radiologic methods in the diagnosis of small bowel disease.

Recently, video capsule endoscopy or wireless capsule endoscopy (WCE) was approved by the US Food & Drug Administration to facilitate examination of the small bowel. This instrument provides a major breakthrough in diagnosis of diseases involving small bowel mucosa. The objectives of this article are to present an overview of the conventional radiologic methods for evaluation of small intestine (small bowel follow through and enteroclysis) and compare these available techniques with WCE in the diagnosis of small bowel disease.
SLIM: a simulation and implementation language for VLSI microcode

SLIM (Stanford Language for Implementing Microcode) is a programming language based system for specifying and simulating microcode in a VLSI chip. The language is oriented towards PLA implementations of microcoded machines using either a microprogram counter or a finite state machine. The SLIM system supports simulation of the microcode and will drive a PLA layout program to automatically create the PLA.
A Case Study on the Use of Fractional Derivatives: The Low-Frequency Viscoelastic Uni-Directional Behavior of Polyurethane Foam

A fractional derivative model of dissipative effects is combined with a nonlinear elastic model to model the response of polyurethane foam in quasi-static compression tests. A system identification method is developed based on a separation of the elastic and viscoelastic parts of the response, which is possible because of symmetries in the imposed deformation time-history. Simulations are used to evaluate the proposed identification method when noise is present in the response. The system identification technique is also applied with some success to experimental data taken from several compression experiments on two types of polyurethane foam blocks.
System-wide hybrid MPC-PID control of a continuous pharmaceutical tablet manufacturing process via direct compaction.

Abstract The next generation of QbD based pharmaceutical products will be manufactured through continuous processing. This will allow the integration of online/inline monitoring tools, coupled with an efficient advanced model-based feedback control systems, to achieve precise control of process variables, so that the predefined product quality can be achieved consistently. The direct compaction process considered in this study is highly interactive and involves time delays for a number of process variables due to sensor placements, process equipment dimensions, and the flow characteristics of the solid material. A simple feedback regulatory control system (e.g., PI(D)) by itself may not be sufficient to achieve the tight process control that is mandated by regulatory authorities. The process presented herein comprises of coupled dynamics involving slow and fast responses, indicating the requirement of a hybrid control scheme such as a combined MPC–PID control scheme. In this manuscript, an efficient system-wide hybrid control strategy for an integrated continuous pharmaceutical tablet manufacturing process via direct compaction has been designed. The designed control system is a hybrid scheme of MPC–PID control. An effective controller parameter tuning strategy involving an ITAE method coupled with an optimization strategy has been used for tuning of both MPC and PID parameters. The designed hybrid control system has been implemented in a first-principles model-based flowsheet that was simulated in gPROMS (Process System Enterprise). Results demonstrate enhanced performance of critical quality attributes (CQAs) under the hybrid control scheme compared to only PID or MPC control schemes, illustrating the potential of a hybrid control scheme in improving pharmaceutical manufacturing operations.
Determinants of small and micro enterprise registration: Results from surveys in Niger and Swaziland

Abstract The relationship between governmental regulations and small and micro enterprises is the subject of increasing interest in developing countries. This paper examines the determinants of small and micro enterprise registration in Niger and Swaziland using a logit framework. Our surveys show that although virtually all firms in these countries are required to register, many do not. Several firm-specific factors are significant in explaining the probability of registering, including sector, location and size. Although Niger and Swaziland were reputed to possess differing regulatory environments, there is no evidence that the likelihood of registration depends on the country in which the firm is located.
Analysis of percutaneous permeation data: II. Evaluation of the lag time method

Abstract To evaluate the lag time method, the permeation of four drugs, propranolol (PR), triamcinolone acetonide (TA), physostigmine (PHY), and tetrahydroaminoacridine (THA), was studied across two skin membranes, hairless mouse skin (HMS), and human cadaver skin (HCS). The permeation studies were conducted with vertical Franz diffusion cell in the static mode, using an infinite dose technique. The resulting permeation profile for each individual drug was analyzed by the lag time method to estimate parameters such as the steady-state flux (Jss), lag time (Tlag), diffusion coefficient (D) and skin/donor-phase partition coefficient (Km). The diffusion coefficient (D) and skin/donor phase partition coefficient (Km) were used to regenerate the entire permeation profile (pre-steady and steady states) using an equation based on Fick's laws of diffusion. The fit of the observed data to the regenerated curve was estimated by linear regression with the observed data as the independent variable. In experiments where steady state should have been achieved at the end of the experiment (experimental duration > 3 × Tlag), R2 was greater than 0.993, the slope was unity and the y-intercept zero for the regenerated profile vs the observed data regression (e.g., PR 72 h, TA with 2% Azone (AZ) pretreatment and 2% AZ as copenetrant, PHY, and THA experiments). For the PR 27 h experiment, TA control and TA with 2% propylene glycol (PG) pretreatment experiments, the slope was significantly greater than unity for linear regression of the regenerated profile vs the observed data. In these experiments, the experimental duration was less than 3 × Tlag and steady state may not have been achieved, which could have resulted in inaccurate estimates of D and Km and hence, the positive bias in the regenerated profiles. Overall, the lag time method was successful in the estimation of permeation parameters from which the entire profile could be regenerated for all the drugs studied. However, the lag time method may result in inaccurate estimates of D and Km if steady state is not achieved as demonstrated by a positive bias (slope > 1) in the regenerated profile. The approach used in this study could be used to verify whether D and Km obtained from a permeation experiment are precise, accurate and hence reliable.
A C library of repair-efficient erasure codes for distributed data storage systems

We developed an open-source C library of repair-efficient erasure codes for distributed data storage systems, which includes five classes of such codes in the literature. Because of the more involved coding structures of these codes, they are more suitable to be viewed as array codes. From this perspective, all these codes can have a uniform encoding and decoding interface. We also discuss the basic principles of the data arrangement, choice of algorithms, and then evaluate the coding speed of these encoding and decoding functions.
Primary Structure Requirements for XenopusNodal-related 3 and a Comparison with Regions Required byXenopus Nodal-related 2

Transforming growth factor-β superfamily members play important roles in the early development of animals. Activin and the Xenopus nodal related proteins 1, 2, and 4 induce muscle actin from Xenopus ectodermal explants, whereas the bone morphogenetic proteins 4 and 7 induce ectoderm to differentiate as epidermis. Bone morphogenetic proteins are antagonized by soluble binding proteins such as noggin and chordin, which leads to expression of neural cell adhesion molecule in animal caps. The transforming growth factor-β superfamily member Xenopusnodal-related 3 also induces the neural cell adhesion molecule through inhibition of bone morphogenetic proteins. Therefore, whereasXenopus nodal-related 2 and 3 share a high amount of sequence homology, they lead to very different cell fates. This study investigates the functional domains that distinguish the activities of these two factors. It was found that mutually exclusive regions of nodal-related 2 and 3 were required for activity. The central region of the mature domain is required for nodal-related 2 to induce muscle actin, whereas the N- and C-terminal ends of the mature domain are required for nodal-related 3 to induce neural cell adhesion molecule. These results help to define the minimal domains required for the unique activities of these factors.
Integration host factor: a protein for all reasons.

The identification and characterization of the Escherichia coli DNA binding protein integration host factor (IHF) is an elegant example of how a well-characterized virus can be employed in the analysis of a host function. In this case, Nash and coworkers, through their landmark in vitro studies of coliphage h site-specific recombination (reiewed in Nash, 1981), have identified a protein that plays roles not only in other recombination reactions, but also in DNA replication and regulation of gene expression. IHF belongs to a class of structurally related “histonelike” proteins that can wrap DNA into higher-order structures (Drlica and Rouviere-Yaniv, 1987). The most abundant of these proteins in E. coli is HU, and others have been found in a number of bacterial genera as well as archaebacteria. In addition to site-specific recombination, other aspects of h development influenced by IHF have been fertile sources of information about this protein. I will initially focus on studies with h that serve to present the basic information about IHF and then examine the various roles for IHF derived from studies of E. coli and some of its other phages and plasmids.
Use of dielectric relaxation spectroscopy to monitor deformation of polycarbonate

A study has been carried out to determine the effect of deformation on the dielectric properties perpendicular to the deformation direction of amorphous polycarbonate. The dielectric tan δ shows a decreasing trend during mechanical creep and increases during recovery. The reverse trend was observed for the dielectric constant, ϵ′. The experiments at different stress levels indicated that the changes in tan δ closely follow mechanical creep and recovery. Under stress, the β-relaxation appears to shift to a higher temperature as a function of frequency.
The effect of lithium carbonate on leukopenia after chemotherapy

Two evaluate the efficacy of lithium carbonate in ameliorating leukopenia, 37 patients (3 to 26 years old, median 15) with normal marrow elements, on chemotherapeutic regimens that produce leukopenia (≤1,000/mm 3 ) over 40% of the time were designated at random on the last day of 82 separate chemotherapy courses to receive lithium or no treatment. Four could not take the drug because of the size of the capsules. There were 39 controls and 39 patients given lithium. Blood levels were maintained at 0.2 to 1.2 mEq/l (median 0.7). The median drop of WBC in the treated group was 3,400/mm 3 with a nadir of 1,800/mm 3 vs 5,000 and 1,400, respectively, for the untreated patients ( P 3 ) while 14 (36%) in the control group become leukopenic to that extent. Twenty-four patient days were spent with the WBC ≤1,000/mm 3 after lithium and 57 days in the control group. Three patients required admission for 24 hospital days for fever while leukopenic after lithium, whereas seven patients spent 62 days in the hospital in the control group. Lithium reduces the period of leukopenia after chemotherapy during which time the patients may acquire infections.
Carnitine in Type 2 Diabetes

Carnitine, the L-beta-hydroxy-gamma-N-trimethylaminobutyric acid, is synthesized primarily in the liver and kidneys from lysine and methionine. Carnitine covers an important role in lipid metabolism, acting as an obligatory cofactor for beta-oxidation of fatty acids by facilitating the transport of long-chain fatty acids across the mitochondrial membrane as acylcarnitine esters. Furthermore, since carnitine behaves as a shuttle for acetyl groups from inside to outside the mitochondrial membrane, it covers also a key role in glucose metabolism and assists in fuel-sensing. A reduction of the fatty acid transport inside the mitochondria results in the cytosolic accumulation of triglycerides, which is implicated in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance. Acute hypercarnitinemia stimulates nonoxidative glucose disposal during euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp in healthy volunteers. Similar results were obtained in type 2 diabetic patients. The above findings were confirmed in healthy volunteers using the minimal modeling of glucose kinetics. The total end-clamp glucose tissue uptake was significantly increased by the administration of doses of acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC) from 3.8 to 5.2 mg/kg/min, without a significant dose-response effect. In conclusion, both L-carnitine and ALC are effective in improving insulin-mediated glucose disposal either in healthy subjects or in type 2 diabetic patients. Two possible mechanisms might be invoked in the metabolic effect of carnitine and its derivative: the first is a regulation of acetyl and acyl cellular trafficking for correctly meeting the energy demand; the second is a control action in the synthesis of key glycolytic and gluconeogenic enzymes.
The turnover of carbon pools contributing to soil CO2 and soil respiration in a temperate forest exposed to elevated CO2 concentration

Soil carbon is returned to the atmosphere through the process of soil respiration, which represents one of the largest fluxes in the terrestrial C cycle. The effects of climate change on the components of soil respiration can affect the sink or source capacity of ecosystems for atmospheric carbon, but no current techniques can unambiguously separate soil respiration into its components. Long-term free air CO2 enrichment (FACE) experiments provide a unique opportunity to study soil C dynamics because the CO2 used for fumigation has a distinct isotopic signature and serves as a continuous label at the ecosystem level. We used the 13 C tracer at the Duke Forest FACE site to follow the disappearance of C fixed before fumigation began in 1996 (pretreatment C) from soil CO2 and soil-respired CO2, as an index of belowground C dynamics during the first 8 years of the experiment. The decay of pretreatment C as detected in the isotopic composition of soil-respired CO2 and soil CO2 at 15, 30, 70, and 200cm soil depth was best described by a model having one to three exponential pools within the soil system. The majority of soilrespired CO2 (71%) originated in soil C pools with a turnover time of about 35 days. About 55%, 50%, and 68% of soil CO2 at 15, 30, and 70cm, respectively, originated in soil pools with turnover times of less than 1 year. The rest of soil CO2 and soil-respired CO2 originated in soil pools that turn over at decadal time scales. Our results suggest that a large fraction of the C returned to the atmosphere through soil respiration results from dynamic soil C pools that cannot be easily detected in traditionally defined soil organic matter standing stocks. Fast oxidation of labile C substrates may prevent increases in soil C accumulation in forests exposed to elevated [CO2] and may consequently result in shorter ecosystem C residence times.
Lessons learned through the implementation of Space-Time Adaptive Processing algorithms for GPS reception in jammed environments

The use of Space-Time Adaptive Processing (STAP) algorithms to mitigate the detrimental effects of jamming upon GPS receivers has gained significant interest in the signal processing community. Sufficient spatial and temporal degrees of freedom allow these algorithms to position nulls in the space-time locations of jammers while concurrently allowing the reception of the GPS signal. Unfortunately, algorithm design assumptions tend to be optimistic and can prove to be unrealistic and inaccurate. Additionally, much of the analysis, development, and evaluation of these digital beamforming algorithms have been accomplished with computer-generated simulations that may not accurately address mismatches between the assumed signal model and the actual environment. In recognition of these shortcomings, MITRE has recently processed recorded data containing both the GPS signal and jamming that can be used to evaluate current and future generation antenna array electronics and signal processing algorithms. In this paper, practical issues encountered during the analysis of the recorded data are presented. These issues must be addressed to ensure the successful evaluation of STAP algorithms for GPS. Techniques are developed to accurately calculate jammer mitigation performance as well as the resulting satellite availability. A methodology for beampattern visualization is also described. We conclude that careful consideration of data collection methods and conditions is required to adequately assess adaptive algorithm performance.
Error covariance sensitivity and impact estimation with adjoint 4D-Var: theoretical aspects and first applications to NAVDAS-AR

This article presents the adjoint-data assimilation system (adjoint-DAS) approach to evaluate the forecast sensitivity with respect to the specification of the observation-error covariance (R-sensitivity) and background-error covariance (B-sensitivity) in a four-dimensional variational (4D-Var) DAS with a single outer-loop iteration. Computationally efficient estimates to the forecast impact of adjustments in the error covariance models are obtained by exploiting the mathematical properties of the R- and B-sensitivity matrices and their relationship with the observation sensitivity vector. An additional contribution of this work is that it establishes a synergistic link between various methodologies to analyze the DAS performance: observation sensitivity and impact assessment, error covariance sensitivity, and a posteriori diagnosis. The practical ability to obtain sensitivity information with respect to R- and B-parameters is presented with the adjoint versions of the Naval Research Laboratory Atmospheric Variational Data Assimilation System–Accelerated Representer (NAVDAS-AR) and the Navy Operational Global Atmospheric Prediction System (NOGAPS). The adjoint approach is used to provide guidance on the forecast impact of weighting the radiance data in the DAS according to observation-error variance estimates derived from an a posteriori diagnosis. The results indicate that information extracted from both error covariance diagnosis and sensitivity analysis is necessary to design parameter tuning procedures that are effective in reducing the forecast errors. Copyright © 2012 Royal Meteorological Society
Utopian Visions in Cold War Documentary : Joris Ivens, Paul Robeson and Song of the Rivers (1954)

Cet article porte un regard nouveau sur certains projets documentaires, cinematographiques et photographiques, qui tentaient d’articuler des eventualites utopiques au plus fort de la guerre froide, au moment ou des imperatifs ideologiques muselaient les artistes, quelles que soient leurs convictions politiques. L’oeuvre au centre de cette etude est Song of the Rivers (1954) de Joris Ivens, qui est analysee et ensuite mise en parallele avec l’exposition de photographies d’Edward Steichen, Family of Man (1955). Afin de mesurer la complexite textuelle et la dialectique propre au film d’Ivens, cette analyse se penche sur les recits personnels, tisses a meme les aspirations epiques du film. Ces recits, concernant Ivens et Paul Robeson, mobilisent la figure du fleuve qui apparait a la fois dans le cinema sovietique et les performances de Robeson. Ivens et Robeson ont tous deux repris, et par la-meme re-figure, des elements de Song of the Rivers dans le cadre de deux projets cinematographiques de moins grande envergure et plus intimistes : pour Ivens, La Seine a rencontre Paris (1957) et, pour Robeson, Brucke uber den Ozean ( Bridge Over the Ocean, 1958), realise avec Earl Robinson.
Toxins in Everyday Life

This article reviews the sources of exposure and health effects of common toxicants encountered by patients in primary care practice. The recognition and management of exposure to indoor and outdoor pollutants, heavy metals, pesticides, electromagnetic fields, and endocrine-disrupting chemicals are listed. A sample environmental history form is included.
Static and dynamic nonlinear loads and structural stability in power systems

In this paper, the authors review the basic concepts of structural stability theory and show its application to multimachine power systems. Specifically they establish a connection between structural stability and bifurcation theory. They examine the effect of nonlinear loads as well as different sizes of induction motor loads on the structural stability limits. Detailed generator models are used in the study throughout. They conclude that in studying power system structural stability, load modeling is a crucial factor and needs more research.
Environmental conflicts with SLAPP reputations

Firms use the strategic lawsuit against public participation (SLAPP) against citizens who complain about poor compliance with environmental rules and regulations. As a consequence, lawmakers have proposed banning SLAPPs in public debate. Theory suggests, however, that a SLAPP ban might be inefficient because it eliminates the efficient signaling equilibrium. This study extends the conflict model to include reputation effects. Our results suggest that a SLAPP ban can increase efficiency but only under a restrictive set of assumptions. One such assumption is that a ban makes sense when firms do not use the SLAPP to build a reputation, which contradicts the spirit of why firms use it in the first place. A SLAPP ban might increase efficiency, however, if it reduces the efficiency losses of chills during the interim periods when a firm builds its reputation.
Estrogen Induction of Very Low Density Apolipoprotein II Synthesis, a Major Avian Liver Yolk Protein, Involves the Recruitment of Hepatocytes*

The mechanism of steroid hormone action was studied in the cockerel liver. Very low density apolipoprotein II (apo-VLDL-II), a yolk protein, is a low molecular weight apolipoprqtein that is inducible by estrogen. The intracellular apo-VLDL-II messenger RNA (mRNA) concentration under various hormonal conditions was examined by a dot-blot assay. The concentration was very low in untreated cockerels (∼0.5 molecule per cell). It increased to 8,000 molecules per cell within 24 h of estrogen treatment and reached a maximum level of approximately 70,000 molecules per cell after 14 daily doses of estrogen. The distribution of hepatocytes harboring apo-VLDLII and its mRNA was studied by immunohistochemistry and by in situ nucleic acid hybridization to cloned [3H]apo-VLDL-II complementary DNA (cDNA). The number of cells containing the immunoreactive protein and the hybridizable mRNA increased from extremely low (0.3% and 0.27%, respectively) to substantial (11% and 10%, respectively) at 24 h after estrogen treatmen...