cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Synthesis and X-ray structure of [H3O+·18-crown-6] [Br−Br−Br−]; a compound containing both H3O+ and a linear and symmetrical Br 3 t- ion crystallized from aromatic solution

[H3O+·18-crown-6][Br−Br−Br−] crystallizes in the triclinic space group P 1 witha=6.105(1),b=8.658(1),c=11.072(1)A, α=71.35(1), β=77.58(1), γ=71.09(1)0, andDc=1.68 g cm−3 forZ=1. Refinement based on 1112 observed reflections led toR=0.044. The cation exhibits a planar oxonium ion bonded symmetrically to the 18-crown-6 (O(oxonium) resides 0.092 A out of the plane of the crown ether oxygen atoms). The anion also resides on a center of inversion with Br−Br=2.530(1)A.
Application of the Bergson model to the optical properties of chiral disulfides

Abstract Bergson developed a simple model to explain the observed red shift of the long-wavelength transition of disulfides as the dihedral angle is reduced from 90° to smaller values. This model is extended here to a calculation of the oscillator strengths and rotational strengths of the n → σ* transitions of chiral disulfides. Explicit expressions for the gradient and angular momentum matrix elements for the n → σ* transitions as functions of the dihedral angle are presented. Transition monopoles suitable for the calculation of the coupling of disulfide n → σ* transitions with other chromophoric groups in complex disulfides are also presented. It is shown that this extension of the Bergson model can account quite well for the observed intensities and rotational strengths of chiral disulfides. The quadrant behavior of the long-wavelength rotational strength derived by Linderberg and Michl and verified experimentally by Ludescher and Schwyzer is observed in our results as well. The observed transitions in the far ultraviolet spectrum of disulfides are assigned to an n → σ* transition at 205 nm and a σ → σ* transition at 190 nm.
Identification of the binding site for transferrin in human reticulocytes

Abstract The receptor site for transferrin was investigated in normal human reticulocytes by the use of photoactive 4-fluoro-3-nitrophenyl azide which was conjugated to chromatographically pure human transferrin saturated with iron. The photoprecursor-bearing protein was further treated with fluorescein isothiocyanate. The nonactivated transferrin conjugate was fully competitive with respect to binding characteristics with normal transferrin. The aryl nitrene-containing photoactivated transferrin-reticulocyte receptor complex was isolated by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Separated proteins and polypeptides were eluted from the gels and analyzed for fluorescence. A fluorescent band of 123,000 daltons was identified as possible transferrin-receptor complex. The molecular weight of the membrane receptor was estimated to be 43,000. This corresponds to the approximate weight of one of the major red cell glycopeptides.
IL-15 produced and trans-presented by DCs underlies homeostatic competition between CD8 and γδ T cells in vivo

Homeostatic mechanism by which peripheral T-cell subsets are maintained in vivo remains largely unknown. Using a T-cell proliferation model under lymphopenic settings, we now demonstrate that γδ T cells limit CD8 T-cell expansion but not the initial proliferation after transfer into lymphopenic recipients. Interleukin-15 (IL-15) produced by and trans-presented on the membrane of the CD11c+ dendritic cells (DCs) is the key factor that mediates homeostatic competition between CD8 and γδ T cells, revealing previously unrecognized IL-15–dependent homeostatic mechanisms between different T-cell subsets in vivo.
Time course of amphetamine-induced locomotor stereotypy in an open field.

Gamma ( $$\hat \gamma$$ ) is a recently proposed statistic that quantifies and describes the repetitive patterns of locomotion (locomotor stereotypy) exhibited by amphetamine-treated rats in an open field. The time-course of locomotor stereotypy after 1, 2, 3, and 4 mg/kg amphetamine was investigated in this research. Locomotor stereotypy was often evident during the first observation period after amphetamine. Lower doses of amphetamine produced qualitatively different locomotor stereotypy than higher doses. Rats given higher doses of amphetamine exhibited locomotor stereotypy during the “hyperactivity” phase of the three-phase response produced by higher doses of amphetamine (hyperactivity; absence of locomotions, increased sniffing, biting etc.; hyperactivity). Contrary to expections, rats injected with 2 mg/kg amphetamine exhibited the highest and most sustained increase in $$\hat \gamma$$ . We conclude that locomotor stereotypy is an important component of the behavioral effects of amphetamine in rats. Whether locomotor stereotypy and focused stereotypy are similar phenomena is still unclear.
Sunspot Bright Rings: Evidence from Case Studies

We present evidence, from both the Precision Solar Photometric Telescope and the Advanced Stokes Polarimeter, for a ring of enhanced continuum intensity surrounding large isolated sunspots. We do not attempt to evaluate the frequency of the phenomenon based on a large sample of spots but instead concentrate on illustrative best-case examples. The rings are about 0.5%-1.0% brighter in red and blue continuum (10 K warmer) than the surrounding photosphere and extend about one sunspot radius outward from the outer penumbral boundary. Most of the excess radiation is not directly associated with the strongest regions of Ca II K emission surrounding the spots or with measurable vertical magnetic field when such measurements are available. Moreover, the temporal evolution of the Ca II K and continuum emission in the ring differ, with the continuum intensity evolving on a shorter timescale. This suggests a convective origin for the bright ring, although a role for weaker, more diffuse magnetic fields cannot be ruled out. While we have inferred that only about 10% of the radiant energy missing from the sunspot is emitted through the bright ring, even this small enhancement may be significant to our understanding of subsurface sunspot structure and energy transport.
Slack and performance in health care delivery

Improving quality and productivity simultaneously is vital to organizational competitiveness. Although continuous improvement is accepted as the objective for world class competition, it is not clear as to which interventions achieve the best performance, which variables intervene by enhancing or restricting the achievement of high quality and productivity, or which measures are appropriate for evaluating differences. Develops a quality evaluation tool and total factor productivity measures for health care clinics. Uses data envelopment analysis (DEA) to discriminate between high and low slack groups. Finds that hypothesized relationships and interactions between quality, productivity, and slack generally have statistically insignificant differences, exceptions being that health care consumers were able to identify characteristics of high and low quality care as well as health care professionals and that health care quality can increase with no decline in productivity when there is high‐slack. In general, high‐slack clinics could increase quality or productivity, but not both.
The Seasonal Variation of the Tropical Circulation as Simulated by a Global Model of the Atmosphere

Abstract A mathematical model of the atmosphere with a seasonal variation of insulation and sea surface temperatures is integrated numerically with respect to time over three model years. The model has a global computational domain and a realistic distribution of mountains. It contains a highly idealized parameterization of convection, i.e., dry and moist convective adjustment. It is found that the model accurately simulates the seasonal variation of the location of the tropical rainbelt as well as that of the flow field associated with it. Over the continental regions of the model, the tropical rainbelt tends to form very close to the equator, whereas, in certain oceanic regions, it has a tendency to form away from the equator. Based upon a comparison of these results with those of another numerical experiment, it is concluded that this tendency is not due to an inherent characteristic of the rainbelt of the model to avoid the equator in oceanic regions, but rather it is due to the equatorial belt of low...
Regulating intensity using perceived exertion during extended exercise periods

The present study was undertaken to examine the validity of using the OMNI scale of perceived exertion to regulate intensity during extended exercise periods. Forty-eight subjects (24 male, 24 female) were recruited and each subject completed a maximal graded exercise test (GXT) and two 20-min submaximal exercises. During the GXT, ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) as well as oxygen uptake (VO(2)) and heart rate (HR) equivalent to 50 and 70% of maximum VO(2) (VO(2max)) were estimated. During each submaximal exercise, subjects were instructed to produce and maintain a workload equivalent to the RPE estimated at 50 or 70% VO(2max), and VO(2) and HR were measured every 5 min throughout the exercise. Of the 48 subjects, 12 (6 male and 6 female) performed both the estimation and production trials on a treadmill (TM/TM), 12 (6 male and 6 female) performed both the estimation and production trials on a cycle ergometer (C/C), 12 (6 male and 6 female) performed the estimation trial on a treadmill and the production trial on a cycle ergometer (TM/C), and 12 (6 male and 6 female) performed the estimation trial on a cycle ergometer and the production trial on a treadmill (C/TM). No differences in VO(2) between the estimation and any 5 min of the production trial were observed at either intensity in TM/TM and C/C. No differences in HR between the estimation and any 5 min of the production trial were also observed at 50% VO(2max) in TM/TM and at both 50 and 70% VO(2max) in C/C. However, HR was higher at 20th min of the production trial at 70% VO(2max) in TM/TM. Both the VO(2) and HR were generally lower in TM/C and higher in C/TM. However, these differences diminished when values were normalized using VO(2max) of the same mode that other groups had attained. These data suggest that under both intra- and intermodal conditions, using the OMNI perceived exertion scale is effective not only in establishing the target intensity at the onset of exercise, but also in maintaining the intensity throughout a 20-min exercise session.
A large-scale validation of dosage analysis by robust dosage-polymerase chain reaction

Abstract Epidemiological and clinical diagnostic assays benefit from accurate detection of deletions and duplications commonly missed by the conventional strategy of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and sequencing of individual exons. Robust dosage-PCR (RD-PCR) is a quantitative duplex PCR method that coamplifies a target template and an endogenous internal control (an autosomal and an X-chromosomal segment) for detection of these mutations. In this study, 110 consecutive RD-PCR assays were developed and validated. The average linear regression coefficient between template copy number and product yield and the average coefficient of determination for linear correlation, R2, were very high: 0.95 and 0.98, respectively. The accuracy of RD-PCR revealed somatic mosaicism for a deletion in the factor 9 gene. Advantages of RD-PCR include (1) high accuracy and consistency, (2) easy calibration of linearity using male and female samples, (3) use of an endogenous internal dosage control to eliminate preparation and manipulation errors, and (4) detection of gene dosage over a wide dynamic range. Deletions and duplications can be easily detected (a 2× decrease or a 1.5× increase in gene dosage). Thus, RD-PCR is a general and accurate method for detecting changes in gene dosage.
What roles can scientists play in public discourse

[1] What is a useful and proper role for scientists in the public arena? How can we best discriminate where the boundary lies between expert knowledge and values or political opinion, and how can we properly honor that line? What can we expect in the way of reception for our interventions, and how can we increase their efficacy? Involvement in public policy debates is a common and accepted role for scientists in many disciplines. In the sciences related to public health, it is taken for granted that experts will talk about the implications of their research for public policy, whether in regard to smoking, diet, or disease spread. There is also a remarkable track record of geoscientists taking a lead role in the public arena and actually affecting public policy—F. Sherwood Rowland and Mario Molina collaborated on ozone depletion research at the Department of Chemistry at University of California, Irvine and then went on to make outstanding public contributions, as have James Hansen (at NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies); Robert Watson (first at NASA, then at the University of East Anglia); and, of course, the late Stephen Schneider (first at the U.S. National Center for Atmospheric Research, then Stanford) on climate. Some “public” geoscientists have restricted their activities to interpreting science for the wider public, while others have endorsed specific policy initiatives (see Figure 1). I firmly believe that the quality of public discourse and the information reaching policy makers were better for their interventions.
Symptoms of distress as prospective predictors of pain-related sciatica treatment outcomes

Prior studies evaluating predictors of pain-related outcomes following treatment for sciatica have been limited by methodological problems, including retrospective study design, use of unvalidated outcome measures, and short-term follow-up periods. Despite these limitations, some reports have suggested that symptoms of psychological distress may predict individual differences in pain treatment-related outcomes (e.g., higher levels of depressive and anxious symptomatology are associated with greater pain and disability after treatment). In this study, we sought to determine whether acute symptoms of depression and anxiety were prospectively associated with treatment outcomes over a 3-year follow-up period in surgically treated and non-surgically treated patients with sciatica. Patients were recruited from the practices of community-based physicians throughout the state of Maine, and underwent in-person baseline assessments, with mailed follow-up questionnaires at 3, 6, 12, 24, and 36 months. Study outcomes included patient-reported symptoms of pain and disability. For each outcome variable, we examined whether baseline mood (i.e., mood assessed prior to the initiation of treatment), as well as mood at the immediately preceding assessment point, prospectively predicted outcomes over 3 years in multivariate repeated-measures analyses. In most analyses, symptoms of depression and anxiety, both at baseline and at the preceding time point, were significant independent predictors of worse pain and function after controlling for relevant covariates. Collectively, elevated distress appears to be a significant risk factor for reduced treatment benefit (i.e., less improvement in pain and disability) over short and medium-term follow-up periods in patients with sciatica. Future research should determine whether the prospective identification and treatment of patients with high levels of distress (a "yellow flag") is associated with improved treatment outcomes.
The comparative myology of the thigh and crus in the salamanders Ambystoma tigrinum and Dicamptodon tenebrosus

Variation in myology of the hind limb among salamanders has been poorly characterized. Nineteen major hind limb muscles of Ambystoma tigrinum (Ambystomatidae) and Dicamptodon tenebrosus (Dicamptodontidae) were studied to provide baseline descriptive data on hind limb myology in salamanders and to generate hypotheses of hind limb muscle function. Most superficial muscles of the hind limbs span multiple joints, including a unique three-joint muscle, the ischioflexorius, that extends from the pelvic girdle to the plantar fascia. The deeper hind limb muscles spen single joints. No myological diffrences were observed between the hind limbs of A. tigrinum larvae and individuals that had just metamorphosed. Fully adult tiger salamanders that had been housed in terraria for many years had hypertrophied femorofibularis and ischiofemoralis muscles, a condition similar to that reported in Paramesotriton and Taricha, which engage in terrestrial locomotion. In contrast, adults of D. tenebrosus, which are also good walkers, possess a hypertrophied ischioflexorius muscle and a reduced femorofibularis. These regular myological diffences, and those described by previous workers for different salamnder taxa, may be associated with differences in life-history traits, and in the case of A. tigrinum, with patterns of muscle use.
Framing Teen Parenting: Cultural and Social Contexts.

This paper which introduces an issue of a journal devoted to articles on adolescent parenting opens by reviewing the new social morbidities facing adolescents in the US that compromise their educational performance. The paper then asserts that addressing adolescent parenting requires an understanding of the sociohistorical concern about adolescent pregnancy in the US and offers a framework for such an understanding based on a review of the literature on welfare reform the adverse consequences of early childbearing and the shortcoming of efforts to address adolescent sexuality in schools. The paper continues by offering a reframing of the problem based on the literature and on articles in this journal that removes the primary burden of prevention from the adolescent girl and considers instead 1) familial and social contexts such as sibling pregnancies and male perceptions; 2) a schooling context including limited curriculum options and availability of on-site day care; and 3) a community context that involves access to integrated services for long-term support. Finally the implications for policy-makers and urban educators are identified as the necessity to 1) confront the inability of schools to allow adolescents to articulate viewpoints that conflict with standards 2) adopt successful sex education programs 3) make programs community-specific and culturally-sensitive 4) provide additional school support to adolescent mothers and 5) seek partnerships with businesses social service agencies and health workers.
A pulsed electron spin resonance study of pseudo 5-coordination in Cu(II) complexes

Abstract A series of potential pentadentate bicyclic ligands which were prepared by the nucleophilic addition of various dialkoxides to the copper(II) complex of tetrabenzo[b,f,j,h][1,5,9,13]tetraazacyclohexadecine (TAAB) were more carefully investigated to determine the coordination properties of the fifth axial donor atom. The spectroscopic differences between Cu (TAAB)2+, non-bridged 4-coordinate Cu(TAAB)(OCH3)2, bridged 4-coordinate Cu(TAAB)[O(CH2)5O], and the 5-coordinate series Cu(TAAB)[O(CH2)2X(CH2)2O] (X  S,NCH3, O) have been discussed previously in terms of a “cage effect” and the potential effect of the axial donor atom. Pulsed ESR (spin echo) experiments reported here indicate that the axial ligand atom in the X  NCH3 case is extremely weakly coordinated, behaving more like an outer sphere atom than an inner sphere one.
Coordinating backup/recovery and data consistency between database and file systems

Managing a combined store consisting of database data and file data in a robust and consistent manner is a challenge for database systems and content management systems. In such a hybrid system, images, videos, engineering drawings, etc. are stored as files on a file server while meta-data referencing/indexing such files is created and stored in a relational database to take advantage of efficient search. In this paper we describe solutions for two potentially problematic aspects of such a data management system: backup/recovery and data consistency. We present algorithms for performing backup and recovery of the DBMS data in a coordinated fashion with the files on the file servers. Our algorithms for coordinated backup and recovery have been implemented in the IBM DB2/DataLinks product [1]. We also propose an efficient solution to the problem of maintaining consistency between the content of a file and the associated meta-data stored in the DBMS from a reader's point of view without holding long duration locks on meta-data tables. In the model, an object is directly accessed and edited in-place through normal file system APIs using a reference obtained via an SQL Query on the database. To relate file modifications to meta-data updates, the user issues an update through the DBMS, and commits both file and meta-data updates together.
Nitric Oxide Donors Inhibit Luciferase Expression in a Promoter-independent Fashion

Abstract Nitric oxide (NO) is an important molecule with diverse bio-messenger functions including regulation of gene expression. Transcriptional studies using sensitive luciferase reporter systems have suggested that NO inhibits the promoter activity of a variety of genes. Here we report that NO donors (sodium nitroprusside, 2′,2′-(hydroxynitrosohydrazono)bis-ethanimine, and (±)-(E)-4-ethyl-2-[(Z)-hydroxyimino]-5-nitro-3-hexen-1-yl-nicotinamide) decrease luciferase activity in a promoter-independent fashion in both viral and eukaryotic promoters, with a reduction to nearly 50% in the presence of 100 μm NO donor. Addition of an SV40 enhancer downstream of the luciferase coding region shifted NO donor inhibition to the right, with inhibition at ∼300 μm. In contrast, when studied in a chloramphenicol acetyltransferase reporter, two promoters indicating inhibition by NO were unaffected. The decrease in luciferase activity was not caused by NO suppression of the luciferase enzyme. Real-time PCR data showed that luciferase mRNA half-life decreased by nearly half in the presence of NO donor (from 75 to 45 min). The SV40 enhancer prolonged luciferase mRNA half-life and somewhat blunted the NO effect. Our data suggest that exogenous NO inhibits luciferase activity in a dose-dependent manner through decreasing luciferase mRNA stability. Thus, the use of luciferase reporter systems to study transcriptional regulation by NO should be attempted with caution.
Proteomic assessment of caffeine effects on coral symbionts.

Caffeine is the most widely consumed and excreted psychoactive drug in the world. It is a ubiquitous tracer of urban wastewater, but its ecological effects are not well understood. We hypothesized that caffeine exposure is associated with coral bleaching. Here we report the effects of caffeine on four species of coral algae endosymbionts belonging to three widely distributed clades: Clade A Symbiodinium microadriaticum (A), Clade B Symbiodinium sp. from Aiptasia pallida (B6), Clade B Symbiodinium sp. from Pseudoterogorgia bipinnata (B7), and Clade C Symbiodinium goreaui (C). To assess the effect of caffeine on algal physiology we used two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and peptide mass spectrometry to identify protein sensitive to caffeine exposure. The results show several upregulated and several downregulated polypeptides in all algae species tested. The heat-shock proteins are among the commonly affected proteins, suggesting that caffeine exposure associated with sewage discharge into n...
Forces and Bond Dynamics in Cell Adhesion

Adhesion of a biological cell to another cell or the extracellular matrix involves complex couplings between cell biochemistry, structural mechanics, and surface bonding. The interactions are dynamic and act through association and dissociation of bonds between very large molecules at rates that change considerably under stress. Combining molecular cell biology with single-molecule force spectroscopy provides a powerful tool for exploring the complexity of cell adhesion, that is, how cell signaling processes strengthen adhesion bonds and how forces applied to cell-surface bonds act on intracellular sites to catalyze chemical processes or switch molecular interactions on and off. Probing adhesion receptors on strategically engineered cells with force during functional stimulation can reveal key nodes of communication between the mechanical and chemical circuitry of a cell.
Two steps forward, one step back? Implications of the Supreme Court's health reform ruling for individuals with mental illness.

A major promise of the Affordable Care Act is to improve care and financial protection for vulnerable populations such as the many lower-income Americans with mental disorders. The key features of the Affordable Care Act are the expansions of insurance coverage through federally subsidized health insurance exchanges and Medicaid eligibility for all individuals up to 138% of the federal poverty line, coupled with tax penalties for forgoing insurance. Because these insurance expansions are expected to increase coverage for lower-income populations, which have a higher prevalence of mental disorders, individuals with mental illness will see significant gains in insurance coverage and access to care.
Experimental and theoretical study of the structure of N, N-dimethyl-4-nitroaniline derivatives as model compounds for non-linear optical organic materials

Abstract Molecular and crystal structure of a series of derivatives of N , N -dimethyl-4-nitroaniline has been studied by both X-ray diffraction method and high-level ab initio calculations. According to these data, the dimethylamino groups were found to have a trigonal-pyramidal configuration and are considerably turned with respect to the ring plane in all molecules having a substituent in the ortho -position; on the contrary, this group is planar in the meta -substituted molecules. Topological analysis of the electron density function for all molecules studied within the framework of Bader's ‘atoms in molecules’ (AIM) theory revealed that introduction of a substituent into the ortho - or meta -position of the ring results in increasing of the contribution of the resonance forms different from the quinoid one. Contribution of the latter form is predominant for the structure of N , N -dimethyl-4-nitroaniline ( 1 ). Topological analysis of the electron density distribution was used to explain a decreasing of the molecular hyperpolarisabilites of the ortho - and meta -substituted compounds as compared with those for 1 .
FLUX ENHANCEMENT USING FLOW REVERSAL IN ULTRAFILTRATION

ABSTRACT The effect of flow reversal on permeate flux in cross-flow ultrafiltration of bovine serum albumin (BSA) has been investigated experimentally. BSA is a well-studied model solute in membrane filtration known for its fouling and concentration polarization capabilities. Ultrafiltration experiments were performed with BSA feed solutions in a hollow-fiber membrane module. The BSA feed concentrations ranged from 0.01 to 5 wt% and were ultrafiltered at a transmembrane pressure of 20 psia. Permeate flux was determined both with and without the use of flow reversal for each concentration. The experimental results indicate that under flow reversal conditions, the permeate flux is enhanced significantly when compared with runs without flow reversal. The effect of flow reversal on flux enhancement is very pronounced for dilute BSA solutions.
The lipophilic multifunctional antioxidant edaravone (radicut) improves behavior following embolic strokes in rabbits: A combination therapy study with tissue plasminogen activator

Abstract Edaravone is a lipophilic drug with multiple mechanisms of action. Because edaravone is a promising drug candidate for the treatment of stroke, we tested the hypothesis that edaravone would be neuroprotective following cerebral ischemia using a rabbit embolic stroke model with a well-defined behavioral endpoint. Using the rabbit small clot embolic stroke model (RSCEM), a drug or drug combination is considered beneficial if it significantly increases the amount of microclots (mg) measured in brain that produce neurologic dysfunction in 50% of a group of animals (P 50 ) compared to the control group. Edaravone (100 mg/kg, SC), increased the P 50 value to 1.80 ± 0.24 mg ( p 50 values by 195% and 161% (compared to control) when administered 1 and 3 h following embolization, respectively, but was inactive when applied 6 h following embolization, compared to the cumulative control group (P 50 = 0.93 ± 0.16 mg). To simulate the design of current clinical trials, edaravone was also given following a standard tPA regimen, which by itself increased the P 50 value to 2.72 ± 0.28 mg. When tPA was infused 1 h following embolization and edaravone was given 3 h following embolization, the P 50 was 2.68 ± 0.56 mg. This study indicates that edaravone may have substantial therapeutic benefit for the treatment of AIS since it had a therapeutic widow of at least 3 h in rabbits. Edaravone can also be administered with a thrombolytic to improve behavior.
Analysis of the dynamic responses for a pre-cracked three-point bend specimen

In this paper, shear deformation and rotary inertia was introduced into the calculation of the dynamic stress intensity factor by means of solving the stiffness of a pre-cracked three-point bend specimen. A simple formula of dynamic stress intensity factor for a pre-cracked three-point bend specimen is derived using the vibration analysis method. Dynamic three-point bending tests were performed on a uniquely modified Hopkinson pressure bar, allowing the dynamic responses of the pre-cracked specimen, such as: the natural frequency, the period of apparent specimen oscillations, the dynamic loads, and the dynamic stress intensity factor to be analyzed experimentally and theoretically.
Alkylene-bridged polysilsesquioxane aerogels: highly porous hybrid organic-inorganic materials

Abstract Alkylene-bridged polysilsesquioxane gels were prepared by sol-gel polymerizations of α, ω-bis(triethoxysilyl)alkanes 1–5. The gels were extracted with supercritical carbon dioxide to afford a novel class of hybrid organic-inorganic aerogels. The effect of the length of the alkylene bridging group and catalyst (HCl and NaOH) on the structure was examined. The molecular structure was characterized by solid-state 13C and 29Si cross polarization magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The alkylene bridging groups survived sol-gel polymerization to give materials with average degrees of condensation of 79 and 90% for the acid- and base-catalyzed aerogels, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy was used to examine the macroscopic structure of the gels and nitrogen sorption porosimetry was used to measure their surface areas and pore structures. Most of the alkylene-bridged aerogels were mesoporous, high-surface-area materials. As with alkylene-bridged polysilsesquioxane xerogels, the surface area decreased with increasing alkylene bridging group length. Only the base-catalyzed tetradecylene-bridged aerogel was found to be non-porous.
Murine model for analysis of the immune response to oral colonization.

The overall aim of this work was to analyze the role of the immune response to a known periodontal pathogen, Actinomyces viscosus T14V, in orally superinfected Balb/c mice. The mice did not contain A. viscosus in the oral cavity prior to superinfection. Colonization by superinfecting A. viscosus was specific for the tooth surface. When mice were placed on a soft, high-carbohydrate diet and superinfected with varying doses of A. viscosus T14VJ1, all mice became infected. A cell-mediated response to the bacteria was detected only in the low-dose inoculated animals, and only the low-dose mice developed bone loss. No serum antibody to the bacteria was detected in any animal. The response to the bacteria was detected in the cervical lymph nodes, which are the draining lymph nodes for the gingival tissue. The results suggest that the development of an immune response to the periodontal pathogen, A. viscosus T14V, correlated with bone loss in super-infected mice.
Postmarketing Surveillance of Drugs: An Overview:

The complete safety profile of a drug cannot be made before marketing because of the limited scope of the controlled clinical trials. Postmarketing surveillance (PMS) is the collection and analysis of information about a drug after it has been marketed. A PMS system ideally must be able to detect a rare event, determine its incidence, and validate the causality. Because an ideal system has not been devised, a combination of methods is used. The advantages and limitations of various methods of adverse drug reaction (ADE) reporting are described, and problems and concerns associated with ADE reporting are discussed. Postmarketing surveillance will continue to benefit from spontaneous reporting of ADEs by clinicians (ie, literature reports, reports to manufacturers and national regulatory agencies) to detect rare events and will be complemented by the selective use of formal PMS methods in appropriate circumstances. Increased clinician awareness of serious, potentially drug-related events together with compr...
Existence of the Møller wave operators for V(r)=γ sin(μrα)rβ

Abstract We prove the existence of the Moller wave operators and the unitarity of the S operator for quantum mechanical potential scattering by potentials of the form This includes the Special case V(r) = sin (r) r .
Real-Time Adaptive Contrast Enhancement

A recursive filter approach is introduced to simplify real-time implementation of an adaptive contrast enhancement scheme for imaging sensors. With this scheme, even scenes possessing large global dynamic ranges (>40 dB) can be accommodated by the limited dynamic range (20 dB) of a display without losing the local contrast essential for image interpretation. This paper describes the recursive filter implementation of the local area contrast enhancement scheme using charge-coupled devices and the resultant real-time hardware capable of processing standard 525 and 875 line TV compatible video (from vidicons, videotape recorders, etc). Several examples from video imagery are included to demonstrate its effectiveness.
Hypertension identification via emergency responders: a randomized controlled intervention study

Abstract Objective The objective was to test the effectiveness of a mail campaign that included blood pressure (BP) measurements from patients treated by emergency medical technicians (EMTs) to motivate them to (re)check their BP at a fire station. The mailing used a 2 × 2 research design tailoring on risk and source personalization. Method In this randomized controlled trial, participants were randomized into a control group or one of four experimental groups. Participants residing in one of four fire departments in a Pacific Northwest metropolitan area were eligible if they had a systolic BP ≥ 160 mm Hg and/or diastolic BP ≥ 100 mm Hg when seen by EMTs during the study period (July 2007–September 2009). Results Of 7106 eligible participants, 40.7% were reached for a follow-up interview. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that although the absolute number of fire station BP checks was low (4%), participants who received any mailed intervention had a 3 to 5-fold increase in the odds of reporting a fire station BP check over controls. Fire station visits did not differ by type of tailored mailing. Conclusion Partnering with Emergency Medical Services is an innovative way to identify high-risk community members for population health interventions.
Molecular Arrangement in Crystals of the Southern Bean Mosaic Virus Protein

ABOUT ten years ago, it was shown1 that electron microscopic examination of ‘psuedo-replicas’ could reveal the ordered particle arrangement on the surface of a macromolecular crystal. The necessary preparations were made by metal-shadowing the dried crystals lying on a glass surface, coating with collodion, freeing this composite layer and dissolving the crystalline deposit from the replica thus produced. The molecular order on several kinds of crystal was seen in this way; but a broader application of the method was limited by factors such as the fragility of the collodion film and the need to work with proteins not denatured by vacuum desiccation and the evaporation of metal.
EUS-guided fine needle aspiration of idiopathic abdominal masses.

Abstract Background: EUS-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) has significantly increased the diagnostic capability of EUS. FNA can also be helpful in the diagnosis of non-GI disorders. The role of EUS-FNA in the diagnosis of idiopathic abdominal masses has not been determined. This study evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of EUS-FNA of abdominal masses of unknown cause and its impact on subsequent evaluation and therapy. Methods: Thirty-four patients from 5 tertiary referral centers (21 women, 13 men; mean age 54 years, range 27-72 years) with idiopathic abdominal masses underwent EUS-FNA. Presenting symptoms included the following: pain (29 patients), weight loss (15), altered bowel habits (7), nausea/vomiting (6), abnormal liver function tests (4), palpable mass (4), and urinary retention (1). Four patients had a history of intra-abdominal cancer (2 cervical, 1 ovarian, 1 colon). A final diagnosis by EUS-FNA, surgery, autopsy, or long-term follow-up was available in all patients. Abdominal masses were classified into 3 disease categories: infectious, benign/inflammatory, and malignant. Results: Final diagnosis included infectious (5), benign/inflammatory (6), and malignant (23) abdominal mass. Overall, EUS-FNA established a tissue diagnosis in 29 of 34 patients (85%) in all 3 categories (infectious, 80%; benign/inflammatory, 67%; malignant, 91%). EUS-FNA was instrumental in directing subsequent evaluation in 29 patients (85%) and therapy in 26 (77%). The number of fine needle passes for adequate tissue sampling was lower for nonmalignant (2.2-3.2) versus malignant diseases (4.6). One complication occurred (perirectal abscess) and was treated successfully with antibiotics. Conclusions: EUS-FNA of idiopathic abdominal masses is safe and accurate and helps to guide subsequent evaluation and therapy in the majority of patients. The most common and promising area seems to be EUS-FNA of malignant abdominal masses. Transluminal EUS-FNA provides minimally invasive tissue sampling and obviates the need for exploratory laparotomy. (Gastrointest Endosc 2002;55:854-8.)
The functional CD8 T cell response to HIV becomes type-specific in progressive disease

High levels of HIV-specific CD8 T cells are demonstrable throughout HIV disease using laboratory assays that measure responses to consensus epitopes. In acute infection, the dynamics of the antiviral CD8 T cell response correlate well with the decline in viremia. However in chronic infection, although responses are detected against a broader spectrum of epitopes, virus-specific CD8 T cells are apparently unable to control viral replication. To investigate whether CD8 T cells responding to consensus epitopes may have lost their in vivo relevance in the chronic phase because of viral evolution driven by immune pressure, we compared the CD8 T cell response to CD4 T cell targets infected with either lab-adapted HIV(IIIB) or the patient's own virus. The magnitude of the IFN-gamma response declined with disease progression, especially to autologous virus. T cell receptor (TCR) clonotypes of HIV(IIIB) and autologous virus-responding cells were determined by sequencing TCR beta chain variable (TCRBV) genes. In two of three asymptomatic donors, the dominant clonotypes overlapped, whereas in five symptomatic patients, the TCR clonotypes responding to HIV(IIIB) virus were completely different from those responding to autologous virus. Moreover, in cytolytic assays, T cell lines derived from IFN-gamma(+) cells responding to lab-adapted or autologous virus cross-recognized target cells infected with either virus in asymptomatic subjects with shared TCR clonotypes but not in progressors with differing clonotypes. Therefore, in advanced-stage patients, viral-specific CD8 T cells recognizing consensus epitopes persist from an earlier response but no longer effectively recognize autologous virus.
An analytical model for the vorticity associated with a transverse jet

A two dimensional model is developed for a turbulent jet injected normally into a uniform crossflow, in which particular emphasis is placed on the contra-rotating vortex pair associated with the jet. By approximating the forces acting on each of the viscous vortices, equations governing the vortex spacing and downstream jet velocity are evolved. No empirical information is incorporated into this model. A description of the variation in total vortex strength is utilized in which vorticity generated by the jet's impulse dominates the farfield. Numerical solution of the governing equations yields results for the vortex trajectory, half spacing, varying circulation, and viscous core size that correlate quite well with experimental data and asymptotic relations. Based on these findings, we conclude that vortex separation and other important characteristics of the jet cross-section are two dimensional and viscous in nature. Hence it becomes possible to predict, on purely theoretical grounds, the behavior of the vortex pair and of the jet itself.
Targeted Delivery of Cisplatin to Lung Cancer Using ScFvEGFR-Heparin-Cisplatin Nanoparticles

The clinical application of cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) (DDP, cisplatin) for cancer therapy is limited by its nonspecific biodistribution and severe side effects. Here, we have developed EGFR-targeted heparin-DDP (EHDDP) nanoparticles for tumor-targeted delivery of DDP. This nanoparticle delivery system possesses the following unique properties: (i) succinic anhydride-modified heparin is biocompatible and biodegradable with no anticoagulant activity; (ii) single-chain variable fragment anti-EGFR antibody (ScFvEGFR) was conjugated to the nanoparticles as an EGFR-targeting ligand. Our results showed that EHDDP nanoparticles can significantly increase the intracellular concentrations of DDP and Pt-DNA adducts in EGFR-expressing non-small cell lung cancer H292 cells via an EGFR-mediated pathway. Compared to the free DDP, significantly prolonged blood circulation time and improved pharmacokinetics and biodistribution of Pt were observed after systemic delivery of the EHDDP nanoparticles. The new EHDDP nanoparticle delivery system significantly enhanced antitumor activity of DDP without weight loss or damage to the kidney and spleen in nude mice bearing H292 cell tumors.
Synchronous, sustained oscillation of C-peptide and insulin in the plasma of fasting monkeys.

The previously reported synchronous oscillations in plasma glucose and insulin levels have been further studied to determine whether the phenomenon can be attributed to cyclic secretion or degradation of the hormone. Plasma C-peptide concentrations were measured and found to cycle with the same period as plasma insulin suggesting that the oscillations of insulin arise from changing secretion rather than degradation. The amplitude of C-peptide oscillation was 50 percent that of insulin. Assuming first order kinetics and the same relative rates of disappearance as in humans, this difference in amplitudes is consistent with equal secretion rates for the two peptides.
Fracture of metal-polymer line structures. II. Rigid-rodlike polyimide

The fracture behavior of the Au/Cr line structures formed on a rigid‐rodlike polyimide, biphenylenetetracarboxylic dianhydride‐phenylenediamine (BPDA‐PDA), film substrate has been investigated using a stretch deformation technique and compared with that of the Au/Cr line structures formed on a semiflexible polyimide, pyromellitic dianhydride‐oxydianiline. In general, the effects of metal line dimensions on the deformation behavior can be attributed to the changes in the mechanical environment induced by metal confinement at the line interface. This gives rise to a fracture behavior and geometrical dependence of these two polyimide structures which are qualitatively similar in most aspects. However, the fracture energy and crack propagation rate of these two polyimide line structures are quantitatively different, with values about twice higher for the BPDA‐PDA line structures. This cannot be accounted for solely by the different chemical bonding; instead, the high fracture toughness of the BPDA‐PDA structu...
Short-term partitioning of ammonium and nitrate between plants and microbes in an annual grassland

We measured short-term (24 h) partitioning of 15NH4+ and 15NO3− into plants and microbes in a California annual grassland. Experiments were done in early spring at the peak of plant growth (February), and in late spring (April) when plant senescence had begun. Soil moisture decreased from 31 to 9% during this period. We injected either 15NH4+, 15NO3−, 15NH4+NO3− or NH415NO3− (≈ 2μg Ng−1 soil for each N-species) into the top 10cm of soil in cylinders which had been driven into the soil. After 24 h the soil and plants in the cylinders were harvested and we measured total N and 15N in inorganic forms, the microbial biomass (chloroform fumigation technique) and harvested plant material. Ammonium was the dominant source of N to both plants and microbes. In February, uptake rates of NH4+ were 81 and 426 mg N m−2 day−1 for plants and microbes, respectively, while in April the rates were 110 and 639 mg N m−2 day−1. Rates of NO3− uptake were 41 and 81 mgNm−2day−1 in February and 83 and 146mgNm−2 day−1 in April for plants and microbes, respectively. Thus, microbes took up substantially more NH4+ and NO3− than plants. On both sampling dates, NH4+ concentrations in the top 10cm of soil ranges from 600 to 800mg N m−2, andNO3− concentrations were <50 mg N m−2 High rates of microbial NO3−3 uptake may have resulted from the occurrence of microsites that were depleted in NH4+. Even though plants competed better for NO3− than for NH4+, microbial uptake was a major factor controlling NO3− availability to plants. The high rates of NH4+ and NO3− uptake by plants and microbes clearly demonstrate that the soil N pool bears little relationship to actual N availability.
Human Embryonic Stem Cells Develop Into Multiple Types of Cardiac Myocytes. Action Potential Characterization

Human embryonic stem (hES) cells can differentiate in vitro, forming embryoid bodies (EBs) composed of derivatives of all three embryonic germ layers. Spontaneously contracting outgrowths from these EBs contain cardiomyocytes (CMs); however, the types of human CMs and their functional properties are unknown. This study characterizes the contractions and action potentials (APs) from beating EB outgrowths cultured for 40 to 95 days. Spontaneous and electrical field-stimulated contractions were measured with video edge-detection microscopy. β-Adrenergic stimulation with 1.0 μmol/L isoproterenol resulted in a significant increase in contraction magnitude. Intracellular electrical recordings using sharp KCl microelectrodes in beating EB outgrowths revealed three distinct classes of APs: nodal-like, embryonic atrial-like, and embryonic ventricular-like. The APs were described as embryonic based on the relatively depolarized resting membrane potential and slow AP upstroke. Repeated impalements of an individual b...
Kinetically Assembled Nanoparticles of Bioactive Macromolecules Exhibit Enhanced Stability and Cell‐Targeted Biological Efficacy

Kinetically assembled nanoparticles are fabricated from an advanced class of bioactive macromolecules that have potential utility in counteracting atherosclerotic plaque development via receptor-level blockage of inflammatory cells. In contrast to micellar analogs that exhibit poor potency and structural integrity under physiologic conditions, these kinetic nanoparticle assemblies maintain structural stability and demonstrate superior bioactivity in mediating oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) uptake in inflammatory cells.