cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Development of a Natural Language Processing Algorithm to Identify and Evaluate Transgender Patients in Electronic Health Record Systems.

Objective: To create a natural language pro­cessing (NLP) algorithm to identify transgen­der patients in electronic health records. Design: We developed an NLP algorithm to identify patients (keyword + billing codes). Patients were manually reviewed, and their health care services categorized by billing code. Setting: Vanderbilt University Medical Center Participants: 234 adult and pediatric trans­gender patients Main Outcome Measures: Number of transgender patients correctly identified and categorization of health services utilized. Results: We identified 234 transgender pa­tients of whom 50% had a diagnosed men­tal health condition, 14% were living with HIV, and 7% had diabetes. Largely driven by hormone use, nearly half of patients attended the Endocrinology/Diabetes/Me­tabolism clinic. Many patients also attended the Psychiatry, HIV, and/or Obstetrics/Gyne­cology clinics. The false positive rate of our algorithm was 3%. Conclusions: Our novel algorithm correctly identified transgender patients and provided important insights into health care utiliza­tion among this marginalized population. Ethn Dis. 2019;29(Suppl 2): 441-450. doi:10.18865/ed.29.S2.441
Ultrathin Chromia on a Hexagonally-Ordered d0 Ferromagnet: Evidence of Interfacial Exchange Bias at the Cr2O3/TiO2–x Interface

Heterostructures consisting of 10 A thick chromia films and 50 A thick titania films display significant exchange bias at and above room temperature. Chromia films ∼10 A thick were deposited by mol...
An Integrated, Software-Defined FDD Transceiver: Distributed Duplexing Theory and Operation

Implementing flexible, software-defined duplexing transceivers remains challenging due to the inherent self-interference from TX to RX that requires cancellation in the RF/analog domain. Previously, we presented a novel, duplexing, integrated, single antenna transceiver architecture that used an M-stage distributed amplifier combined with an artificial transmission line to achieve high transmit-receive isolation across more than an octave in center frequency. In this paper, we explain and explore the trade-offs and limits on this class of distributed, duplexing transceivers as a function of system and sub-circuit parameters.
Enhanced Recovery Program in Older Patients Undergoing Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation (ER-SCT): First Year Outcomes

Background Older patients undergoing allogeneic stem cell transplant (SCT) have inferior outcomes. They have limited physiological reserves, which makes them more susceptible to toxic effects of conditioning regimens. Supportive care directed at maintaining and augmenting their limited functional reserve may reduce non-relapse mortality (NRM). We studied impact of a multidisciplinary supportive care and prehabilitation program (ER-SCT) and compared one-year NRM with a historical control group. Methods Between 1/1/15 and 9/30/18, 204 patients ≥ 65 years old underwent allogeneic SCT at our institution. ER-SCT program started on 10/1/17 and 57 of 64(89%) eligible patients participated during the first year. All 64 patients were included in the ER-SCT cohort, while patients treated between 1/1/15-9/30/17 were in the control group. ER-SCT program consisted of a prehabilitation phase prior to admission. Patients were evaluated by a multidisciplinary team consisting of a geriatrician, physical medicine and rehabilitation physician, physical therapist, occupation therapist, dietician, nurse, and a pharmacist specializing in SCT. Preexisting chronic conditions were optimized and recommendations were made for nutrition, exercise, and coping strategies. During hospitalization, fluid usage and medication choice / doses were optimized for older patients to prevent side effects such as fluid overload and delirium. Physical therapy, occupational therapy and nutrition counselling was continued. The team continued to follow and intervene as needed after discharge from the hospital. Results Median age was 68 (65-79) with 36 (18%) patients >than 70 years. Diagnoses included AML 96 (47%), MDS 57(28%), MPD 26 (13%), ALL 8(4%), and other 17 (8%). 103 (51%) had high or very high disease risk index (DRI). HCT-CI score was >3 in 80 (39%). Donor types included 127 (62%) matched unrelated, 57(28%) matched related and 20(10%) haploidentical. The NRM at 1 year was 13% in ER-SCT cohort vs 26% (p=0.03) in the control cohort. Multivariate analysis adjusting for GVHD prophylaxis and conditioning regimen, age, DRI, HCT-CI, donor type and graft source showed that ER-SCT HR=0.4 (0.2-0.9, P=0.02), comorbidity score Conclusion Although the data from this retrospective sequential cohort analysis cannot be conclusive, they do suggest that a multidisciplinary supportive care program (ER-SCT) may reduce NRM in older patients undergoing allogeneic SCT.
Investigation Into the Viability of Neural Networks as a Means for Anomaly Detection in Experiments Like Atlas at the LHC

Petabytes of data are generated at the Atlas experiment at the Large Hadron Collider however not all of it is necessarily interesting, so what do we do with all of this data and how do we find these interesting needles in an uninteresting haystack. This problem can possibly be solved through the process of anomaly detection. In this document, Investigation Into the Viability of Neural Networks as a Means for Anomaly Detection in Experiments Like Atlas at the LHC the effectiveness of different types of neural network architectures as anomaly detectors are researched using Monte Carlo simulated data generated by the DarkMachines project. This data is meant to replicate Standard Model and Beyond Standard Model events. By finding an effective model, the Atlas experiment can become more effective and fewer interesting events will be lost.
Keratinocyte-Polyamines and Dendritic Cells: A Bad Duet for Psoriasis

The role of keratinocyte metabolism in psoriasis is not fully elucidated. In this issue of Immunity, Lou et al. describe that interleukin-17 (IL-17) re-programs the urea cycle in keratinocytes increasing polyamines that stabilize RNA-Ag-complexes that upon cellular turnover activate dendritic cells, which amplify psoriasis inflammation.
Maternal administration of probiotics promotes gut development in mouse offsprings

Necrotizing enterocolitis is the most common gastrointestinal disorder in premature neonates. This disease is characterized by massive epithelial necrosis, gut barrier dysfunction and improper mucosal defense development. Studies have shown that probiotic administration can decrease NEC incidence and mortality. The proposed mechanisms of probiotics for the prevention of NEC are: promotion of intestinal development; improved barrier function through decreased apoptosis and improved mucin production; decreased expression of proinflammatory cytokines IL6, IL8, and TNFα, and modulation of microbiota dysbiosis in preterm infants. However, reported sepsis in the immunocompromised preterm host has deterred routine prophylactic administration of probiotics in the neonatal intensive care unit. We hypothesize that maternal administration of probiotics to pregnant mouse dams can recapitulate the beneficial effects observed in neonates fed with probiotics directly. We exposed pregnant mice to the probiotics and monitored the changes in the developing intestines of the offspring. Pregnant mice were fed daily with the probiotics Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium infantis (LB) from embryonic day15 to 2-week-old postnatally. Intraperitoneal administration of IL-1β in the pups was used to model proinflammatory insults. Sera were collected at 2 weeks of age and evaluated for inflammatory cytokines by enzyme-linked-immunosorbent-assay and gut permeability by Fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran tracer assay. Ileal tissues were collected for the evaluation of apoptosis and proliferation of the intestinal epithelium; as well as mucin and tight junction integrity at mucosal surface by immunofluorescent staining. We find that maternal LB exposure facilitated intestinal epithelial cell differentiation, prevented loss of mucin and preserved the intestinal integrity and barrier function and decreased serum levels of IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-6 in the preweaned offsprings. in LB exposed pups. We demonstrate that maternal probiotic supplementation promotes gut maturation in developing offspring. This is potentially a safe alternative therapy to induce intestinal maturation and prevent prematurity-associated neonatal disorders.
Abstract 14313: Machine Learning for Prediction of Low Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol in Fasting and Non-fasting Patients With and Without HIV Infection

Background: Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is commonly estimated from total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and triglycerides (TG) using predefined equat...
Biventricular Takotsubo Syndrome with COVID-19 in an Asian Male.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been shown to affect the cardiovascular system, and several cases of takotsubo syndrome (TTS) induced by COVID-19 have been reported. TTS predominantly affects postmenopausal women in western countries, but the prevalence in men is higher in Asian populations. It should be noted that male patients with either TTS or COVID-19 are associated with higher mortality. Despite the higher prevalence of TTS in Asian men, little is known about Asian men with TTS induced by COVID-19. This is a case report of a 60-year-old Asian male with biventricular TTS precipitated by COVID-19. He presented with acute respiratory distress syndrome, cardiogenic shock, and acute kidney injury. He required intubation, multiple vasopressors, and renal replacement therapy. The left ventricular ejection fraction was 15%, but it normalized in 5 weeks. The patient had a prolonged hospital stay in a critical condition, but was eventually discharged alive. The scarce literature about this condition in Asian male populations and the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in Asian countries highlight the rarity and importance of this case. Further studies are warranted to investigate the uneven sex distribution and outcomes of TTS triggered by COVID-19 in an Asian population. .
3,3'-Diindolylmethane Exhibits Significant Metabolism after Oral Dosing in Humans.

3,3′-Diindolylmethane (DIM), a major phytochemical derived from ingestion of cruciferous vegetables, is also a dietary supplement. In preclinical models, DIM is an effective cancer chemopreventive agent and has been studied in a number of clinical trials. Previous pharmacokinetic studies in preclinical and clinical models have not reported DIM metabolites in plasma or urine after oral dosing, and the pharmacological actions of DIM on target tissues is assumed to be solely via the parent compound. Seven subjects (6 males and 1 female) ranging from 26–65 years of age, on a cruciferous vegetable-restricted diet prior to and during the study, took 2 BioResponse DIM 150-mg capsules (45.3 mg DIM/capsule) every evening for one week with a final dose the morning of the first blood draw. A complete time course was performed with plasma and urine collected over 48 hours and analyzed by UPLC-MS/MS. In addition to parent DIM, two monohydroxylated metabolites and 1 dihydroxylated metabolite, along with their sulfate and glucuronide conjugates, were present in both plasma and urine. Results reported here are indicative of significant phase 1 and phase 2 metabolism and differ from previous pharmacokinetic studies in rodents and humans, which reported only parent DIM present after oral administration. 3-((1H-indole-3-yl)methyl)indolin-2-one, identified as one of the monohydroxylated products, exhibited greater potency and efficacy as an aryl hydrocarbon receptor agonist when tested in a xenobiotic response element-luciferase reporter assay using Hepa1 cells. In addition to competitive phytochemical-drug adverse reactions, additional metabolites may exhibit pharmacological activity highlighting the importance of further characterization of DIM metabolism in humans. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT 3,3′-Diindolylmethane (DIM), derived from indole-3-carbinol in cruciferous vegetables, is an effective cancer chemopreventive agent in preclinical models and a popular dietary supplement currently in clinical trials. Pharmacokinetic studies to date have found little or no metabolites of DIM in plasma or urine. In marked contrast, we demonstrate rapid appearance of mono- and dihydroxylated metabolites in human plasma and urine as well as their sulfate and glucuronide conjugates. The 3-((1H-indole-3-yl)methyl)indolin-2-one metabolite exhibited significant aryl hydrocarbon receptor agonist activity, emphasizing the need for further characterization of the pharmacological properties of DIM metabolites.
A Resolution of the Trans-Planckian Problem in the R h = ct Universe

The recent measurement of a cutoff k_min in the fluctuation power spectrum P(k) of the cosmic microwave background may vitiate the possibility that slow-roll inflation can simultaneously solve the horizon problem and account for the formation of structure via the growth of quantum fluctuations in the inflaton field. Instead, we show that k_min may be interpreted more successfully in the R_h=ct cosmology, as the first mode exiting from the Planck scale into the semi-classical Universe shortly after the Big Bang. In so doing, we demonstrate that such a scenario completely avoids the well-known trans-Planckian problem plaguing standard inflationary cosmology, with some additional clues that may motivate further development of Kaluza-Klein cosmologies, string theories and supergravity.
Dexmedetomidine Levels in Breast Milk: Analysis of Breast Milk Expressed During and After Awake Craniotomy.

Background: Dexmedetomidine is an α2-adrenoreceptor agonist with utility in sedation and analgesia for the perioperative or intensive care patient. The literature regarding the safety of dexmedetom...
Abraham ou La cinquième Alliance

With this his ninth novel, 1 Boualem Sansal takes on the extraordinary task of rewriting the Book of Genesis in and for the modern age. Abraham ou La cinquieme Alliance follows the meanderings of a...
Dryden Flight Research Center Critical Chain Project Management Implementation

In Fiscal Year 2011 Dryden Flight Research Center (DFRC) implemented a new project management system called Critical Chain Project Management (CCPM). Recent NASA audits have found that the Dryden workforce is strained under increasing project demand and that multi-tasking has been carried to a whole new level at Dryden. It is very common to have an individual work on 10 different projects during a single pay period. Employee surveys taken at Dryden have identified work/life balance as the number one issue concerning employees. Further feedback from the employees indicated that project planning is the area needing the most improvement. In addition, employees have been encouraged to become more innovative, improve job skills, and seek ways to improve overall job efficiency. In order to deal with these challenges, DFRC management decided to adopt the CCPM system that is specifically designed to operate in a resource constrained multi-project environment. This paper will discuss in detail the rationale behind the selection of CCPM and the goals that will be achieved through this implementation. The paper will show how DFRC is tailoring the CCPM system to the flight research environment as well as laying out the implementation strategy. Results of the ongoing implementation will be discussed as well as change management challenges and organizational cultural changes. Finally this paper will present some recommendations on how this system could be used by selected NASA projects or centers.
Expanding the spectrum of subacute diencephalic angioencephalopathy

We present a patient with subacute diencephalic angioencephalopathy (SDAE), a poorly understood syndrome of progressive confusion, disorientation, and dementia that rapidly deteriorates to severe encephalopathy and death. This is the seventh and most thoroughly investigated report of this exceedingly rare diagnosis to date, and we present the first evidence of a potential sentinel syndrome that may allow for earlier diagnosis and therapeutic intervention. We also review the relevant literature, and highlight new evidence that suggests that SDAE and the related disorder, subacute brainstem angioencephalopathy (SBAE), represent severe and terminal variants of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES). Taken together, we suggest a new understanding of SDAE/SBAE and PRES as a spectrum of hypertension-associated non-inflammatory vascular encephalopathies that are mediated by a loss of venous autoregulation, marked by cytotoxic edema, and that ultimately produce subacute-to-acute diencephalic, brainstem, and posterior fossa injuries with devastating neurologic consequences.
A Glass Wool Column Procedure for Removing Extraneous Material from the Human Ejaculate

A glass column has been devised which removes the majority of debris and agglutinated and dead spermatozoa from, as well as reduces the total viscosity of, the semen sample. It is a simple procedure to perform and may have potential clinical significance.
Proteomic Analysis by Two-Dimensional Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis

Publisher Summary The chapter focuses on proteome analysis by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2D-PAGE) and its applications. The proteomes from distinct samples are extracted and separated by 2D-PAGE and the relative abundance of each protein in the different samples is measured by visualizing the protein spots. After excising spots with different abundances between the two gels, the spots are enzymatically digested, and the extracted peptides are analyzed by mass spectrometry (MS) or tandem MS. These data are used in conjunction with an appropriate database to identify the protein. Once proteins are separated via 2D-PAGE, they need to be visualized before MS analysis. Proteins in electrophoretic gels can be visualized by a number of staining techniques. Visualizing the protein spots provides two key parameters: the ability to locate the protein within the gel and to compare its intensity with its spot on another gel so that a sense of its relative expression between two samples can be ascertained. In addition to the conventional staining techniques described in the chapter, methods have been developed for the specific labeling or staining of proteins that are glycosylated, phosphorylated, S-nitrosylated, adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-ribosylated, arginine methylated, and proteolytically modified. The key characteristics required of any effective staining technique are sensitivity, high linear-dynamic range for quantitation measurements, and compatibility with downstream MS analysis. Although the basic foundation of 2D-PAGE in proteomics is the high-resolution separation and quantitation of proteins from different samples, the explosion of proteomics has resulted in many different variations on this approach. Several applications of 2D-PAGE—such as effects of hypoxia on kidney protein expression, characterization of human prion protein by 2D-PAGE, proteome analysis of esophageal cancer by differential in-gel electrophoresis (DIGE), and proteome analysis of secreted proteins—are also presented
For Owen M. Fiss: Reflections on the Triumph and the Death of Adjudication

This essay provides a rapid retrospective of some hundred years of history of civil processes in the United States and also refers to the world more generally, as a predicate to exploring today's challenges, different from those on of only decades ago. The question, then, was the permissibility of manipulating process to obtain outcomes, but the assumption, then, was that a court-based procedural regimes was itself durable. Here, I argue a different tension - between the existence of judging as we understand it and systems of dispute resolution that lack most of adjudication's values and attributes. As Owen Fiss has many times insisted, adjudication is predicated on public and disciplined factfinding, licensing judges to impose regulatory obligations. This focus on the individual judge and this belief in adjudication embrace the state as a central regulator of conduct. The presumption is that transparent decisionmaking by state-empowered judges can be controlled through judges obliged to invoke facts adduced through a record, to give explanation, and to make available appellate review. But that view now has a serious competitor, committed to the utility of contract and looking to the participants to validate outcomes through consensual agreements, sometimes styled alternative dispute resolution (ADR) and sometimes dispute resolution (DR). Civil processes are one site of the struggle between public and private governance and between state-based redistribution efforts and market-focused mechanisms - between constitutionalism on the one hand, working through a regulatory state that relies in part on adjudication, and, contract, on the other, seen as maximizing utility by reflecting preferences and tastes. My purposes in this essay are threefold. First, I explain why the familiar forms and function of adjudication, engaged by Owen Fiss's jurisprudence, are not necessarily durable. Second, I hope to inscribe new images of federal judges, no longer heroic solo actors but part of a corporate body that socializes new generations of judges to be suspicious of adjudication and to prefer negotiation. As I detail, the management of today's federal judiciary uses its collective voice to lobby Congress not to provide new federal rights and remedies if enforced in federal court. Third, I demonstrate how, by cutting off classes of litigants from high-profile adjudication by life-tenured federal judges and by sending these litigants to less public processes, policy choices of both judges and lawyers have reduced broad constituent support for adjudication.
Fusion properties of cells infected with human parainfluenza virus type 3: receptor requirements for viral spread and virus-mediated membrane fusion.

Abstract Cells can be persistently infected with human parainfluenza virus type 3 (HPF3) by using a high multiplicity of infection (MOI) (> or = 5 PFU per cell). The persistently infected cells exhibit no cytopathic effects and do not fuse with each other, yet they readily fuse with uninfected cells. We have previously shown that the failure of the persistently infected cells to fuse with each other is due to the lack of a receptor on these cells for the viral hemagglutinin-neuraminidase glycoprotein, and we have established that both fusion and hemagglutinin-neuraminidase proteins are needed for cell fusion mediated by HPF3. We then postulated that the generation of persistent infection and the failure of cells infected with HPF3 at high MOI to form syncytia are both due to the action of viral neuraminidase in the high-MOI inoculum. In this report, we describe experiments to test this hypothesis and further investigate the receptor requirements for HPF3 infection and cell fusion. A normally cytopathic low-MOI HPF3 infection can be converted into a noncytopathic infection by the addition of exogenous neuraminidase, either in the form of a purified enzyme or as UV-inactivated HPF3 virions. Evidence is presented that the receptor requirements for an HPF3 virus particle to infect a cell are different from those for fusion between cells. By treating infected cells in culture with various doses of neuraminidase, we demonstrate that virus spreads from cell to cell in the complete absence of cell-cell fusion. We compare the outcome of HPF3 infection in the presence of excess neuraminidase with that of another paramyxovirus (simian virus 5) and provide evidence that these two viruses differ in their receptor requirements for mediating fusion.
A dynamic interface generator

In the paper, we describe a dynamic interface generator (DIG) to help organizations and companies create an entire data entry application in precisely this way: easy, fast and customized to their needs. The DIG system creates a framework that recognizes the user settings and configuration, and then builds the user interface screen with the appropriate controls and functionality. In addition, the DIG system provides direct and interactive user input and data validation to maintain its scope and functionality across a wide range of applicability.
On the accuracy of memory reference models

This paper presents a new method of quantifying and visualizing the locality characteristics of any reference stream. After deriving a locality function, we show the correspondence between features of the locality function and common low-level program structures. We then apply the method to determine the locality characteristics of reference streams generated by a variety of synthetic models. These characteristics are shown to be substantially different from those of the reference trace used to determine the parameters of the models. We conclude that these synthetic models have serious inadequacies for evaluating the performance of memory hierarchies.
Polaron Tunneling in High-Temperature Superconductors

Nonlinear self-trapping effects are frequently proposed in the nonlinear science community — in contexts from excitons, magnons, and polarons in solid state materials, to molecular crystals and polypeptides, to nonlinear optics. The general phenomena of self-trapping involves the selfconsistent response of one field to one or more with which it is coupled, and provides excellent examples of coexisting influences of nonlinearity, lattice discreteness, quantum and thermal fluctuations, disorder, competing timescales, etc. Correspondingly, many approximate analytical and numerical techniques have been used to approach these complex issues. Here we consider a simple copper-oxygen cluster which appears in many high-temperature superconductors, which displays unusual structural and optical behavior, and which we model in terms of “dynamic polaron tunneling.” We introduce a Peierls-Hubbard model to describe this cluster and use exact diagonalization to evaluate its properties. We emphasize the importance of nonlinear and nonadiabatic aspects of structural measurements, inelastic neutron scattering, and phonon spectroscopy (infrared and Raman).
Cardiovascular and hormonal responses to electroconvulsive therapy.

Summary A patient suffering from severe psychiatric depression underwent a course of electroconvulsive therapy. A marked rise in systemic arterial pressure, heart rate and plasma catecholamines in response to electroconvulsive therapy was attenuated by β-receptor blockade using propranolol. The significance and mechanism of this attenuation are discussed.
Moving Range and R Charts

Control charts for controlling the process mean are affected by changes in the process standard deviation. Therefore it is important to also control the process standard deviation. Various control charting methods have been developed for this purpose. Two commonly recommended statistical methods for controlling the process standard deviation are the moving range (MR) and the range (R) charts. The designs of MR and R charts are discussed in this article and each is illustrated with an example. Keywords: Phase I; Phase II; cumulative sum; dispersion; quality control; run length
Cellular immune responses in guinea pigs immunized with cell walls of Histoplasma capsulatum prepared by several different procedures.

Abstract Since guinea pigs immunized with water-washed cell walls of Histoplasma capsulatum developed cellular immune responses detectable with cytoplasmic substances, attempts were made to determine whether cytoplasmic contamination of the walls was responsible for the induction of the immune response. Cell walls were treated by several procedures designed to remove possible contamination, namely, extraction with lipid solvents, incubation with proteolytic enzymes, and washing with sodium dodecyl sulfate, and each of the treated preparations was compared with water-washed walls for its ability to induce cellular responses demonstrable with cytoplasmic substances. For comparison, wall glycoprotein was also used as a test antigen. Immune responses were assessed by gross and histological examinations of skin test sites and by assays for the production of migration inhibition factor. A portion of the material inducing the response detectable with cytoplasmic substances was apparently removed or altered by each of the purifying procedures. The cellular immune responses to wall glycoprotein were also altered, however, indicating that more than the mere removal of cytoplasmic substances had occurred. On the basis of the data collected from each of the cellular assays involving wall glycoprotein as the test antigen, the hypothesis is proposed that sodium dodecyl sulfate altered or removed protein from the wall and thus augmented its ability to induce a more intense immediate-type hypersensitivity, whereas incubation with Pronase altered the walls in such a way as to shift the balance toward a more intense delayed-type hypersensitivity. The latter effect was probably due to the removal of carbohydrate from the wall by glucanase or to mannosidase contaminating the Pronase preparation.
A Note on the E-Optimality of Regular Line Graph Designs

The recent work of Cameron (2009) on real symmetric matrices with zero diagonals, −1, 0, 1 entries, constant row sums, and the smallest eigenvalues greater than −2 provides a useful tool for studying E-optimal block designs. We use a result that restricts the possible values of the common row sum to show the E-optimality of some regular graph designs whose associated graphs are line graphs. In particular, L 2-type and triangular partially balanced incomplete block designs with λ2 = λ1 + 1 are shown to be E-optimal.
Synthesis and properties of palmityl adenylate, palmityl coenzyme A, and palmityl glutathione☆

Abstract Procedures for the preparation of palmityl adenylate, palmityl coenzyme A, and palmityl glutathione have been described. The stability of these compounds under different pH conditions has been investigated. Hydrolytic activities for each of the palmityl derivatives were demonstrated in several tissue extracts. Palmityl transferase activities from palmityl adenylate to coenzyme A and to glutathione were shown, and ATP formation by guinea-pig liver was detected from palmityl adenylate and pyrophosphate.
Potent thrombin inhibitors via a 20-membered ring olefin metathesis macrocyclization

Twenty-membered ring pyrazinone derived macrocycles were prepared as a means to enhance the potency of existing thrombin inhibitors. Macrocyclization was accomplished via Grubbs olefin metathesis of a highly functionalized allyl-alloc scaffold, thus further confirming the power of such methodology.
Miniature polymer transducers for high-frequency medical imaging

High frequency polymer transducers have been used in a variety of medical imaging applications since they were first introduced by Sherar and Foster in the late 1980s. The transducers are intrinsically broadband and the flexibility of the polymer material makes fabrication relatively easy. Unfortunately, piezoelectric polymer materials have a low dielectric constant. Unless a large aperture is used, the electrical impedance of the transducer will be high, and the receiver sensitivity will be poor. This problem can be avoided by placing a high impedance pre-amplifier inside the transducer housing. Placing the pre-amplifier close to the transducer is important to avoid standing waves between the high output impedance of the transducer and the high input impedance of the pre-amplifier. We have recently developed a process for fabricating high frequency spherically shaped polymer transducers in which an integrated circuit die is mounted just beneath the surface of the transducer. In this paper we describe a theoretical and experimental analysis of the noise performance of these devices. The signal-to-noise ratio at the output of the pre-amplifier is estimated by combining a simple noise model for the amplifier with a KLM model of the transducer. This analysis provides a useful way of evaluating different transducer/pre-amplifier combinations. Excellent agreement between the model predictions and experimental results proves the validity of this approach.© (1998) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Human intestinal fatty acid binding protein: Report of an assay with studies in normal volunteers and intestinal ischemia

Abstract Background. Human intestinal fatty acid binding protein (hIFABP) is a cytoplasmic protein of mature small intestinal epithelium. Work with the rat demonstrated that serum levels of IFABP correlated with early phases of intestinal mucosal injury. The aim of this study was to develop an assay for hIFABP and assess its usefulness as a marker for intestinal mucosal injury in human beings. Methods. Recombinant hIFABP (r-hIFABP) was used to produce rabbit anti-hIFABP. Specificity and avidity of binding were tested with immunoprecipitation and Scatchard analysis. r-hIFABP was labeled with 125I, and a competitive assay was developed. Urine and serum from normal volunteers and from patients with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), acute thromboembolic related intestinal ischemia, and systemic inflammatory response syndrome were tested for hIFABP. Results. Molecular weight was 10-12 kd, limit of detection was 1.87 ng/ml, and no cross-reactivity occurred when tested against rat IFABP or human heart FABP. Mean levels of hIFABP (ng/ml) were controls (serum less than 1.87, urine less than 1.87), NEC (serum 14.7 ng/ml), intestinal ischemia (serum 50 ng/ml, urine 52.3 ng/ml), systemic inflammatory response syndrome (serum 5.3 ng/ml, urine 13.2 ng/ml). Conclusions. This assay is quantitative for hIFABP in serum and urine. Results from both normal persons and those with various causes of intestinal ischemia parallel our previous findings in the rat. Preliminary findings suggest that hIFABP may serve as a diagnostic marker for early intestinal mucosal compromise and, in addition, that it should prove useful as a tool in developing rationale therapeutic regimens to treat these complex clinical problems.
Magnetic Studies of Solid Solutions II. The Properties of Quenched Copper-Iron Alloys

The alloys of copper and iron which have been studied show unusual magnetic properties both in the saturation effects at low temperatures and in the apparent change in the magnetic moment of the dissolved iron atoms over the range of temperatures from 14\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K to 1300\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K. Further research is required on other alloy systems containing transition elements dissolved in the noble metals in order to ascertain whether the phenomena are due to fundamental magnetic properties or due to the state of aggregation of the iron atoms.
Optimizing fine-grained communication in a biomolecular simulation application on Cray XK6

Achieving good scaling for fine-grained communication intensive applications on modern supercomputers remains challenging. In our previous work, we have shown that such an application --- NAMD --- scales well on the full Jaguar XT5 without long-range interactions; Yet, with them, the speedup falters beyond 64K cores. Although the new Gemini interconnect on Cray XK6 has improved network performance, the challenges remain, and are likely to remain for other such networks as well. We analyze communication bottlenecks in NAMD and its CHARM++ runtime, using the Projections performance analysis tool. Based on the analysis, we optimize the runtime, built on the uGNI library for Gemini. We present several techniques to improve the fine-grained communication. Consequently, the performance of running 92224-atom Apoa1 with GPUs on TitanDev is improved by 36%. For 100-million-atom STMV, we improve upon the prior Jaguar XT5 result of 26 ms/step to 13 ms/step using 298,992 cores on Jaguar XK6.
Operational terminology for stimulus exposure (SE) conditioning

Nomenclature for simple types of learning is ambiguous and incomplete, as even commonly used terms such as 'habituation' and 'sensitization' are not applied consistently. One problem is a failure to distinguish between operational and theoretical constructs linguistically. Operational terminology for reporting behavioural results should be different from the language used in the discussion of learning theory. Thus, systematic operational terminology for simple types of conditioning is proposed. The most general category, stimulus exposure (SE) conditioning, is learning by exposure to a stimulus or to multiple stimuli where explicit inter-stimulus contingencies or instrumental reinforcers are not a part of training. Subtypes of SE conditioning are distinguished by the number of different stimuli used during training, by the method used to assess learning, and by the relationship between training stimuli and the assessment method. These categories include 'alteractive', 'iterative', 'heterostimic', and 'multistimic' conditioning. Learned responses are also categorized as reduction, enhancement, or transformation. SE conditioning categories combine with response terminology in phrases such as 'iterative reduction', which is a decrease in the response to a stimulus due to repeated presentation of that stimulus.
Quasi-anharmonic analysis reveals intermediate states in the nuclear co-activator receptor binding domain ensemble.

The molten globule nuclear receptor co-activator binding domain (NCBD) of CREB binding protein (CBP) selectively recruits transcription co-activators (TCAs) during the formation of the transcription preinitiation complex. NCBD:TCA interactions have been implicated in several cancers, however, the mechanisms of NCBD:TCA recognition remain uncharacterized. NCBD:TCA intermolecular recognition has challenged traditional investigation as both NCBD and several of its corresponding TCAs are intrinsically disordered. Using 40μs of explicit solvent molecular dynamics simulations, we relate the conformational diversity of ligand-free NCBD to its bound configurations. We introduce two novel techniques to quantify the conformational heterogeneity of ligand-free NCBD, dihedral quasi-anharmonic analysis (dQAA) and hierarchical graph-based diffusive clustering. With this integrated approach we find that three of four ligand-bound states are natively accessible to the ligand-free NCBD simulations with root-mean squared deviation (RMSD) less than 2A These conformations are accessible via diverse pathways while a rate-limiting barrier must be crossed in order to access the fourth bound state.
Roman and Civil Law and the Development of Anglo-American Jurisprudence in the Nineteenth Century

Seeking to fill a gap in our knowledge of the legal history of the nineteenth century, this volume studies the influence of Roman and civil law upon the development of common law jurisdictions in the United States and in Great Britain. Hoeflich examines the writings of a variety of prominent Anglo-American legal theorists to show how Roman and civil law helped common law thinkers develop their own theories. Intellectual leaders in law in the United States and Great Britain used Roman and civil law in different ways at different times. The views of these lawyers were greatly respected even by non-lawyers, and most of them wrote to influence a wider public. By filling in the gaps in the history of jurisprudence, this volume also provides greater understanding of the development of Anglo-American culture and society.
Characterization of Fine Particulate Matter Produced by Combustion of Residual Fuel Oil

ABSTRACT Combustion experiments were carried out on four different residual fuel oils in a 732-kW boiler. PM emission samples were separated aerodynamically by a cyclone into fractions that were nominally less than and greater than 2.5 |j.m in diameter. However, examination of several of the samples by computer-controlled scanning electron microscopy (CCSEM) revealed that part of the PM2.5 fraction consists of carbonaceous cenospheres and vesicular particles that range up to 10 |j.m in diameter. X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) spectroscopy data were obtained at the S, V, Ni, Fe, Cu, Zn, and As K-edges and at the Pb L-edge. Deconvolution of the X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) region of the S spectra established that the dominant molecular forms of S present were sulfate (26-84% of total S) and thiophene (13-39% of total S). Sulfate was greater in the PM2.5 samples than in the PM25+ samples. Inorganic sulfides and elemental sulfur were present in lower percentages. The Ni XANES spectra f...
Influence of Core Aerification, Topdressing, and Nitrogen on Mat, Roots, and Quality of ‘Meyer’ Zoysiagrass

Thatch accumulation is a common occurrence in lawn and sports turf and is usually detrimental. We initiated aerification, topdressing, and N treatments in July 1987, to investigate their influence on thatch, mat, quality, and color of zoysiagrass (Zoysiajaponica Steud. cv. Meyer). Turfgrass color responses to N were positive and strongly linear. Turfgrass quality was generally good to excellent in response to N. However, trends were not as well defined as color responses and varied according to month and year. The aerification + topdressing combination according to N level was nonsignificant for turfgrass quality in all months and significant for color only in October. Weight of mat, which consisted mostly of rhizomes, and root weights declined linearly in response to increasing N. The root weight response is consistent with research reports of C 3 turfgrasses but inconsistent with earlier studies of C 4 turfgrasses where root weights increased with increasing N. Mat depth averaged over N was equal in response to topdressing vs. no topdressing. Root weights and mat weight were significantly greater with topdressing. Mat organic matter (OM) was greater with no topdressing. Our results suggest that maintenance of zoysiagrass with only enough N to provide acceptable turfgrass density and color will give the best root development in nonsandy soils. Annual topdressing with soil similar to that of the growing site may further enhance root development.
Toward bridging the gap between biological, psychobiological and psychosocial models of alcohol craving

Urge to drink ("craving") has been a central focus of many theories and treatments, but some researchers question the importance of urges during recovery. Several studies assessed reactions to the presence of beverage alcohol (cue-reactivity) or to simulated high-risk situations (role plays). Higher urges in response to role plays predicted more drinking during the 6 months after treatment. However, urges in response to beverage cues were inconsistently predictive of outcome while measures of awareness or attention to cues predicted less drinking. Urge to drink might reflect a conflict between motivation to drink and awareness of danger. Whether urges predict increased risk of drinking should be a function of factors that affect motivation to drink, awareness of risk and effectiveness of coping. Cue-reactivity assessment has recently been used to bridge the gap between psychosocial and biomedical approaches in several ways: (1) salivation to cues predicts increased drinking independent of urge or attention, showing the value of including both physiological and psychosocial measures; (2) naltrexone has been shown to decrease cue-elicited urge to drink, illustrating the value of this assessment methodology for medications evaluation and (3) pre-pulse inhibition of startle response is being used to investigate the role of dopaminergic pathways in cue-elicited urge. Thus, this laboratory based program of research has the potential to add to knowledge of both biomedical and psychosocial mechanisms involved in urge and relapse, leading to greater integration of models.
Effects of trial repetition, limb side, intraday and inter-week variation on vertical and craniocaudal ground reaction forces in clinically normal Labrador Retrievers.

Objectives: To document the contributions of trial repetition, limb side, and intraday and inter-week measurements on variation in vertical and craniocaudal ground reaction force data. Methods: Following habituation, force and time data were collected for all four limbs of seven Labrador Retrievers during sets of five valid trot trials. Each set was performed twice daily (morning and afternoon), every seven days for three consecutive weeks. A repeated measures analysis of variance was used to determine the effects of limb, trial, intraday, and inter-week factors on ground reaction force data for the thoracic and pelvic limbs. Results: Of the four factors evaluated, variation due to trial repetition had the largest magnitude of effect on ground reaction forces. Trial within a set of data had an effect on all craniocaudal, but not vertical, ground reaction force variables studied, for the thoracic limbs. The first of five trials was often different from later trials. Some thoracic limb and pelvic limb variables were different between weeks. A limb side difference was only apparent for pelvic limb vertical ground reaction force data. Only pelvic limb craniocaudal braking variables were different between sets within a day. Discussion and clinical significance: When controlling for speed, handler, gait, weight and dog breed, variation in ground reaction forces mainly arise from trial repetition and inter-week data collection. When using vertical peak force and impulse to evaluate treatment, trial repetition and inter-week data collection should have minimal effect of the data.
Measurement of Brownian and Néel Relaxation of Magnetic Nanoparticles by a Mixing-Frequency Method

A detection scheme for both Brownian and Neel relaxation of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) is demonstrated by a mixing-frequency method in this paper. MNPs are driven into the saturation region by a low-frequency sinusoidal magnetic field. A high-frequency sinusoidal magnetic field is then applied to generate mixing-frequency signals that are highly specific to the Brownian relaxation of MNPs. These highly sensitive mixing-frequency signals from MNPs are picked up by a pair of balanced built-in detection coils. The relationship between MNPs' relaxation time and phase delays of the mixing-frequency signals behind the applied field is derived, and is experimentally verified. Magnetite MNPs with the core diameter of 35 nm are used for the measurement of Brownian relaxation, and Magnetite MNPs with the core diameter of 12 nm are used for the measurement of Neel relaxation. The results show that both Brownian and Neel relaxation depend on the magnetic offset field. This study provides an in-depth understanding of the relaxation mechanisms of MNPs.
Broadcasting the Past: History Television, “Nostalgia Culture,” and the Emergence of the Miniseries in the 1970s United States

Abstract:New forms of history television in the 1970s responded to and helped articulate a larger “nostalgia culture.” But this culture was not about escapism or a longing for a lost and irretrievable past, instead evidencing a new form of historical consciousness that allowed for closer identification and for a reevaluation of the past and the present. Television, because of its generic qualities of live delivery, immediacy, and intimacy, was particularly well positioned to illustrate and negotiate this shift. An examination of history programming, particularly the emergence of miniseries such as Roots, casts light upon these new forms of narrativization and identification.