cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract P014: 1,3-butanediol Induces Weight Loss But No Antihypertensive Effects In Male S.SHR(11) Rats, An Accelerated Model Of Renal Injury

The ketone body precursor 1,3-Butanediol (BD) has been reported to lower blood pressure in male Dahl Salt-sensitive rats fed a 2% NaCl diet and female S.SHR(11) rats on a 0.3% NaCl diet. Treatment ...
Evaluation of Hyaluronic Acid to Modulate Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Growth In Vitro.

Introduction: Previous studies have demonstrated that glycosaminoglycan hyaluronic acid (HA) is capable of mediating oral tumor growth. Some clinical evidence has suggested reduced HA expression predicts poor cancer prognosis and that HA-chemotherapy conjugates may function synergistically to inhibit oral tumor growth. Other studies have found conflicting results that suggest enhanced CD44-HA-mediated growth and proliferation. Due to the lack of clarity regarding HA function, the primary goal of this study was to investigate the effects of HA using well-characterized oral cancer cell lines. Methods: Using several commercially available oral squamous cell carcinoma lines (and a normal non-cancerous control), 96-well growth and viability assays were conducted using HA (alone and in combination with chemotherapeutic agents paclitaxel and PD98059). Results: Different results were observed in each of the cell lines evaluated. HA induced small, non-significant changes in cellular viability among each of the cell lines within a narrow range (1–8%), p = 0.207. However, HA induced differing effects on growth, with minimal, non-significant changes among some cell lines, such as SCC4 (+1.7%), CCL-30 (−2.8%), and SCC15 (−2.5%), p = 0.211 and more robust inhibition among other cell lines, SCC9 (−24.4%), SCC25 (−36.6%), and CAL27 (−47.8%), p = 0.0001. Differing effects were also observed with growth and viability under concomitant administration of HA with PD98059 or paclitaxel. Further analysis of these data revealed strong inverse (Pearson’s) correlations between initial baseline growth rate and responsiveness to HA administration, ranging from R = −0.27 to R = −0.883. Conclusion: The results of this study revealed differing responses to HA, which may be inversely correlated with intrinsic characteristics, such as the baseline growth rate. This may suggest that the more rapidly growing cell lines are more responsive to combination therapy with hyaluronic acid; an important finding that may provide insights into the mechanisms responsible for these observations.
Preclinical neurorehabilitation with environmental enrichment confers cognitive and histological benefits in a model of pediatric asphyxial cardiac arrest

Pediatric asphyxial cardiac arrest (ACA) often leaves children with physical, cognitive, and emotional disabilities that affect overall quality of life, yet rehabilitation is neither routinely nor systematically provided. Environmental enrichment (EE) is considered a preclinical model of neurorehabilitation and thus we sought to investigate its efficacy in our established model of pediatric ACA. Male Sprague-Dawley rat pups (post-natal day 16-18) were randomly assigned to ACA (9.5 min) or Sham injury. After resuscitation, the rats were assigned to 21 days of EE or standard (STD) housing during which time motor, cognitive, and anxiety-like (i.e., affective) outcomes were assessed. Hippocampal CA1 cells were quantified on post-operative day-22. Both ACA + STD and ACA + EE performed worse on beam-balance vs. Sham controls (p 0.05); however, a single day analysis on the last day of testing revealed that the ACA + EE group performed better than the ACA + STD group (p 0.05). Both Sham groups performed better than ACA + STD (p 0.05) in the open field test. Spatial learning and declarative memory were improved and CA1 neuronal loss was attenuated in the ACA + EE vs. ACA + STD group (p < 0.05). Collectively, the data suggest that providing rehabilitation after pediatric ACA can reduce histopathology and improve motor and cognitive ability.
Prevalence of and Factors Associated with Gabapentinoid Use and Misuse Among Texas Medicaid Recipients

Gabapentin and pregabalin have been considered relatively safe opioid-sparing adjuncts for pain management. However, rising prescribing trends, presence of gabapentinoids in opioid-related overdoses, and the growing body of evidence regarding gabapentinoid misuse and abuse, have caused gabapentinoids to emerge as a drug class of public health concern. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of, and factors associated with gabapentinoid use and misuse. This retrospective study of Texas Medicaid data from 1/1/2012 to 30/8/2016 included patients aged 18–63 years at index date, with ≥ 1 gabapentinoid prescription, and continuously enrolled 6 months pre-index and 12 months post-index. Gabapentinoid misuse was defined as ≥ 3 claims exceeding daily doses of 3600 mg for gabapentin and 600 mg for pregabalin. Age, gender, concurrent opioid use, neuropathic pain diagnoses and gabapentinoid type were independent variables. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used. Of included subjects (N = 39,000), 0.2% (N = 81) met study criteria for gabapentinoid misuse. Overall, the majority (76.4%) of gabapentinoid users were aged 41–63 years with a mean ± SD age of 48.2 ± 10.7 years. Those patients meeting the study criteria for gabapentinoid misuse were significantly younger (45.1 ± 11.0 vs 48.2 ± 10.7, p = 0.0084). Majority of the study sample was female (68.1%). However, a significantly higher proportion of males met the study criteria for gabapentinoid misuse compared to females (0.3% vs 0.2%, p = 0.0079). Approximately one-half (51.9%) of the study sample had neuropathic pain, and gabapentinoid misuse was significantly higher in neuropathic pain patients compared to those without neuropathic pain (0.3% vs 0.1%, p = 0.0078). Over three-quarters (77.4%) of patients were using gabapentin; however, gabapentinoid misuse was significantly higher among pregabalin users (0.4% vs 0.2%, p = 0.0003). Approximately 20% (17.3%) of gabapentinoid users had ≥ 90 days of concurrent opioid use. However, there was no significant difference in gabapentinoid misuse among patients with concurrent opioid use compared to patients without (0.3% vs 0.2%, p = 0.1440). Factors significantly associated with misuse included: male sex (odds ratio [OR] 0.486; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.313–0.756; p = 0.0013); neuropathic pain (OR 2.065; 95% CI 1.289–3.308; p = 0.0026); and pregabalin versus gabapentin use (OR 2.337, 95% CI 1.492–3.661; p = 0.0002). Concurrent opioid use was not significantly associated with gabapentinoid misuse (OR 1.542, 95% CI 0.920–2.586; p = 0.1006). Prevalence of gabapentinoid misuse was low (0.2%) among Texas Medicaid recipients. Younger age, male gender, neuropathic pain diagnosis and pregabalin use were significantly associated with higher levels of gabapentinoid misuse.
The Real Enemies of Democracy

The Constitution is undemocratic and the Supreme Court is not helping. That is Professor Karlan’s sobering assessment in "The New Counter-majoritarian Difficulty." The structural problems include the non-majoritarian effects of the Senate and the Electoral College, combined with the demographics and polarization of the American electorate. The doctrinal problems include the Supreme Court’s failing to intervene against voter-identification legislation or partisan gerrymandering while at the same time having the temerity to invalidate part of the Voting Rights Act. I don’t exactly disagree. The Constitution is flawed and hard to amend, and the Supreme Court is not going to fix it. But I would urge some perspective. It isn’t the Supreme Court’s job to fix the Constitution, it is ours, and we will get to it as best we can. More fundamentally, however, I worry that democracy faces far worse enemies than the Senate, the Electoral College, or the Supreme Court. Those enemies are the ones who resist the peaceful transfer of power, or subvert the hard wired law of succession in office. The shield against them may be more formalism, not less. So we destabilize our current imperfect arrangements at our own peril.
Reply to 'Parenteral nutrition for preterm infants: correcting for arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acid may not suffice'.

We would like to thank Bernhard and colleagues for their thoughtful letter, ‘Parenteral nutrition for preterm infants: correcting for arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acid may not suffice’ written in response to our review. The authors of the letter raised important issues regarding the lack of data surrounding the optimal balance of arachidonic …
The mGluR6 ligand-binding domain, but not the C-terminal domain, is required for synaptic localization in retinal ON-bipolar cells.

Signals from retinal photoreceptors are processed in two parallel channels - the ON channel responds to light increments, while the OFF channel responds to light decrements. The ON pathway is mediated by ON type bipolar cells (BCs), which receive glutamatergic synaptic input from photoreceptors via a G-protein coupled receptor signaling cascade. The metabotropic glutamate receptor mGluR6 is located at the dendritic tips of all ON-BCs and is required for synaptic transmission. Thus, it is critically important for delivery of information from photoreceptors into the ON pathway. In addition to detecting glutamate, mGluR6 participates in interactions with other postsynaptic proteins, as well as trans-synaptic interactions with presynaptic ELFN proteins. Mechanisms of mGluR6 synaptic targeting and functional interaction with other synaptic proteins are unknown. Here, we show that multiple regions in the mGluR6 ligand binding domain are necessary for both synaptic localization in BCs and ELFN1 binding in vitro. However, these regions were not required for plasma membrane localization in heterologous cells, indicating that secretory trafficking and synaptic localization are controlled by different mechanisms. In contrast, the mGluR6 C-terminus was dispensable for synaptic localization. In mGluR6 null mice, localization of the postsynaptic channel protein TRPM1 was compromised. Introducing WT mGluR6 rescued TRPM1 localization, while a C-terminal deletion mutant had significantly reduced rescue ability. We propose a model in which trans-synaptic ELFN1 binding is necessary for mGluR6 postsynaptic localization, whereas the C-terminus has a role in mediating TRPM1 trafficking. These findings reveal different sequence determinants of the multifunctional roles of mGluR6 in ON-BCs.
Examining the safety of respiratory and intravenous inoculation of Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus and Micavibrio aeruginosavorus in a mouse model

Bdellovibrio spp. and Micavibrio spp. are Gram-negative predators that feed on other Gram-negative bacteria, making predatory bacteria potential alternatives to antibiotics for treating multi-drug resistant infections. While the ability of predatory bacteria to control bacterial infections in vitro is well documented, the in vivo effect of predators on a living host has yet to be extensively examined. In this study, respiratory and intravenous inoculations were used to determine the effects of predatory bacteria in mice. We found no reduction in mouse viability after intranasal or intravenous inoculation of B. bacteriovorus 109J, HD100 or M. aeruginosavorus. Introducing predators into the respiratory tract of mice provoked a modest inflammatory response at 1 hour post-exposure, but was not sustained at 24 hours, as measured by RT-qPCR and ELISA. Intravenous injection caused an increase of IL-6 in the kidney and spleen, TNF in the liver and CXCL-1/KC in the blood at 3 hours post-exposure, returning to baseline levels by 18 hours. Histological analysis of tissues showed no pathological changes due to predatory bacteria. Furthermore, qPCR detected predators were cleared from the host quickly and efficiently. This work addresses some of the safety concerns regarding the potential use of predatory bacteria as a live antibiotic.
Evaluation of HIV Clinical Consultation Provided by the AIDS Education and Training Centers: Improving Clinician Capacity to Provide HIV Treatment

Abstract This study examines the effectiveness of HIV clinical consultation offered by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) funded AIDS Education and Training Centers (AETC) program. The study demonstrates that the consultation provided is effective and useful in providing current treatment recommendations to clinicians in the field caring for HIV-infected patients. The study also shows that individual clinicians seeking clinical consultation from AETC consultants implement the recommendations provided.
Transport Through Bounding Surfaces

When a gaseous plain medium bounds a partially saturated porous medium, then interfacial heat and mass transfer can occur across this interface. This interfacial convective heat and mass transfer requires temperature and concentration gradients and fluid motions. Figure 11.1 depicts this interface Apa between a porous and a plain (ambient) medium. A discussion of this interfacial transport is given by van Brakel (1982). This interface is not planar and the distribution of the phases on this interface is very complex and depends on the surface saturation (defined for a thin interfacial layer), the solid topology, the wettability, and the history. There is, in general, some motion within the interfacial liquid phase. In addition to this and the motion in the gaseous plain medium, the liquid and gaseous phases in the bulk of the porous medium experience motion. The porous medium gaseous phase moves due to the concentration and the total gas- phase pressure gradients. The liquid phase, in addition to the saturation gradient, can undergo motion due to the gradient of the surface-tension, buoyancy, wind-shear, solid-fluid surface forces (as discussed in Chapter 9), or combinations of these forces. In this chapter, we review the elements and existing treatments of the interfacial transport across partially saturated surfaces. Since the problem involves the simultaneous heat and mass transfer, a complete treatment is very involved. However, as with other phenomena we examine some simple systems in detail and evaluate the experimental results for the more complex systems.
Paul de Man's Philosophical Poetics

When details of the literary critic Paul de Man's anti-Semitic wartime journalism surfaced in the 1980s, enemies of deconstruction in the academy claimed that the always-controversial style of thought tended inherently towards nihilism in its tight focus on the paradoxes of language and in its relative indifference to truth claims. More recently, ‘speculative realists’ in philosophy have lambasted deconstruction and critical theory more generally with neglecting the reality of the physical world as it exists outside language and human comprehension. But what if Paul de Man's own engagements with Kant and the European philosophical tradition in the latter years of his life reveal a side of deconstruction that was as concerned with the intransigence of the material world as it was with the paradoxes of language? In this article, I take the measure of recent debates in Continental philosophy around realism and language, with the aim of bringing to light a less visible side of de Man's philosophical poetics, one that has nonetheless been pursued by scholars critically concerned with the precisely philosophical resonances of de Man's bracing theories of language and materiality.
ASSAY METHODS FOR SOME VINCA ROSEA ALKALOIDS. II.

Colorimetric and fluorometric methods are presented for quantitative determination of some Vinca alkaloids. The identification is accomplished with a new color reagent—ceric ammonium sulfate in phosphoric acid—and two thin-layer chromatographic systems.
An Automated Method for the Determination of Serum Calcium with Glyoxal Bis (2-Hydroxyanil)

A completely automated analysis is described for the determination of serum calcium with glyoxal bis (2-hydroxyanil) solution (GBHA). The method is simple and precise, and the data obtained are in good agreement with results obtained by the manual GBHA procedure.
Strategic planning for clinical services: St. Joseph Hospital and Health Care Center.

A pharmacy department at a 340-bed community hospital based its strategic plan for developing patient-oriented services on a sound drug distribution system, a credible work-measurement program, and fiscal responsibility. In 1982 the department of pharmacy and i.v. therapy implemented a strategic plan for improving pharmaceutical services. The plan involved developing goals and objectives for the department; marketing the department's services and fiscal management to hospital administrators, medical staff, and nursing staff; building teamwork among the pharmacy staff; and improving the drug distribution system before instituting clinical services. Hiring of additional pharmacy staff was justified on the basis of work-measurement data. By adjusting staffing levels every two weeks based on work-measurement data, the department increased the efficiency of drug distribution activities; the pharmacy also implemented cost-saving programs like selection of therapeutic alternates and formulary restrictions. The savings were then reinvested in labor-intensive patient-oriented pharmaceutical services. A staff development program using staff pharmacists as preceptors expanded the breadth and depth of pharmacists' clinical skills. The planning efforts were successful because the needs of hospital administrators, the pharmacy department, and staff members were addressed.
Scaling integration method for singular integrals and its application to BEM

Abstract A new, accurate, and efficient algorithm is developed for the numerical evaluation of a class of singular integrals which arise in the BEM (boundary element method) analyses. The algorithm is based on an idea of scaling integration that utilizes a proportional relationship inherent in the numerical computation of the singular integrals over flat triangular elements. The present algorithm (scaling integration method) avoids the direct numerical evaluation of the integrand in the neighborhood of singularities. It is shown and demonstrated that the method is simpler, faster, and more accurate than standard Gaussian integration algorithms. An application of the method to the BEM analysis is also described and the results are favorably compared with the exact solution.
Triphenylbenzene in Urban Atmospheres, a New PAH Source Tracer

PAHs have generally been determined in environmental samples according to the EPA priority list or as benzo[a]pyrene to assess concentrations and potential health hazards. This approach, although sensitive, is tedious and provides limited environmental/ecological source insight. Here, the addition of triphenylbenzene to the analytical scope for PAHs to address a current global environmental problem is proposed. The dominant urban and rural emission sources are still internal combustion engines, industry and burning, but novel or escalating sources are the open burning of plastics (also roasting), land fills, coal, biomass, and other wastes. This is illustrated here with examples of data for PAHs in total extract mixtures from such sources and in atmospheric particulate matter (PM). Triphenylbenzene, a PAH tracer for burning of polyethylene plastics and land fill wastes, is found in aerosol PM and should be included in PAH inventories. High temperature open burning emits novel PAHs tracers with MW >300da o...
Household Preferences for a Hurricane Mitigation Fund in Florida

AbstractIn this study, household preferences in terms of willingness to pay for financing a hurricane mitigation fund in the State of Florida were investigated. Survey results indicate that more than one-fourth of homeowners would be willing to pay to finance a mitigation fund. The willingness to pay (WTP) is driven by household income, risk perceptions, and support to specific mitigation measures such as rating home structures and funding the insurance system. Household WTP estimates were also presented. With an annual household contribution of $43–$45, the State of Florida could raise more than $300 million for a hurricane mitigation fund. This annual contribution is more than the $250 million that the My Safe Florida Home (MSFH) Program spent in 2007 to 2009. A highly conservative WTP estimates ($7.77/year) suggest that Florida could collect almost $55.5 million per year to fund a hurricane mitigation program similar to the MSFH program. The program could help in delivering salient risk information and...
Powers of the largest latent root test of ∑= I

In this paper two types of asymptotic approximations to the distribution of the largest latent root of the sample covariance matrix are examined. The first approximation is valid when the largest l...
Stability and activity of Pt and Ni catalysts for hydrodeoxygenation in supercritical water

Abstract We determined the stability, activity, and selectivity of Pt/C, Ni/SiO2Al2O3, Raney Ni 2800, and Raney NiCu for the hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) of o-cresol in supercritical water at 380 °C. We also demonstrate the feasibility of using a renewable chemical, formic acid, for the in situ production of the H2 needed for HDO. Pt/C, Raney Ni, and Raney NiCu were stable in supercritical water, but only Pt/C and Raney NiCu were selective to deoxygenated products. The Raney NiCu catalyst provided a 3.4-fold increase in yield of deoxygenated products when compared with the Raney Ni catalyst by decreasing the C C bond hydrogenolysis activity. The Raney NiCu catalyst was stable throughout the 24 h time on stream that was examined and appears to be a promising catalyst for further study and optimization.
Regiospecific carboncarbon bond formation by oxidative coupling of η1-allyl or η1-propargyl ligands of organoiron complexes

Abstract Novel and regiospecific coupling reactions of η 5 -C 5 H 5 (CO) 2 Fe(η 1 -allyl) and (η 5 -C 5 H 5 (CO) 2 Fe(η 1 -propargyl) complexes due to oxidation by silver hexafluorophosphate are reported. The mono- and bi-nuclear products contain (substituted) hexadiene and hexatetraene ligands while variable amounts of protonation products are also formed.
Interaction between gauge vector fields

Abstract The interaction between massless vector fields possessing gauge invariance of the second kind and the Maxwell field is considered. A discussion is given of the special properties of gauge fields and of the definition of minimal electromagnetic coupling. The inconsistency of minimal coupling for the systems in question is reviewed. It is then shown that while a particular non-minimal coupling is consistent for the fields in question, even the latter becomes inconsistent in the presence of other known charged fields. Thus such fields as that of Yang-Mills or the “baryon” gauge field cannot carry charge unless all other charged fields in nature also form appropriate multiplets.
Letter by Lee and Goldman Regarding Article, “Development and Validation of a Risk Calculator for Prediction of Cardiac Risk After Surgery”

To the Editor: We read with interest the article by Gupta et al1 on the development of a risk calculator for cardiac risk after noncardiac surgery based on data from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database, and write to dispute the conclusion that the performance of the resulting cardiac risk calculator “surpasses that of the Revised Cardiac Risk Index” (RCRI).2 The major issue is that Gupta et al are using a different outcome from that used by our research group in development of the RCRI. Their outcome includes cardiac arrests within 30 days after surgery and intraoperative events, as well. The likelihood that their outcomes were dominated by postoperative …
Doorway state approximation and sign correlations in parity nonconservation in compound neutron resonances

The nonzero average parity-nonconserving longitudinal analyzing powers for p-wave neutron resonances in compound nuclear systems are analyzed within the giant J=${0}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$ resonance doorway model. Assuming that the parity-nonconservation interaction can be approximated by a one-body operator of the type \ensuremath{\sigma}\ensuremath{\cdot}p, we find that the observed fixed sign of the asymmetry arises naturally within the doorway model. The J=${0}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$ giant resonance does not enhance the size of the constant asymmetry. The model prediction for the average symmetry is shown to be similar to that obtained in the single-particle model. In particular, if one retains only the first-order contribution to the analyzing power, a very large single-particle matrix element 〈4${\mathit{p}}_{1/2}$\ensuremath{\Vert}${\mathit{V}}_{\mathrm{pv}}$\ensuremath{\Vert}5${\mathit{s}}_{1/2}$〉\ensuremath{\simeq}75\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}50 eV is needed to reproduce the observed average asymmetry. This large value is in contradiction with the value of 2 eV estimated from the experimentally measured spreading width of the parity-violating interaction using the doorway model.
Plants Mediate the Sensitivity of Soil Respiration to Rainfall Variability

Soil respiration from grasslands plays a critical role in determining carbon dioxide (CO2) feedbacks between soils and the atmosphere. In these often mesic systems, soil moisture and temperature tend to co-regulate soil respiration. Increasing variance of rainfall patterns may alter aboveground–belowground interactions and have important implications for the sensitivity of soil respiration to fluctuations in moisture and temperature. We conducted a set of field experiments to evaluate the independent and interactive effects of rainfall variability and plant–soil processes on respiration dynamics. Plant removal had strong effects on grassland soils, which included altered CO2 flux owing to absence of root respiration; increased soil moisture and temperature; and reduced availability of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) for heterotrophic respiration by microorganisms. These plant-mediated effects interacted with our rainfall variability treatments to determine the sensitivity of soil respiration to both moisture and temperature. Using time-series multiple regression, we found that plants dampened the sensitivity of respiration to moisture under high variability rainfall treatments, which may reflect the relative stability of root contributions to total soil respiration. In contrast, plants increased the sensitivity of respiration to temperature under low variability rainfall treatment suggesting that the environmental controls on soil CO2 dynamics in mesic habitats may be context dependent. Our results provide insight into the aboveground–belowground mechanisms controlling respiration in grasslands under variable rainfall regimes, which may be important for predicting CO2 dynamics under current and future climate scenarios.
The relation between surface damage and film strengthening effects

Abstract The strengthening effects produced by various metallic coatings on copper single crystals were studied. There was no relation between the magnitude of the strengthening produced and the mechanical strength of the various coatings. On this basis, a mechanism involving the operation of the coating as a simple barrier to dislocation egress from the crystal was considered inappropriate. Likewise, there was no relation between the relative shear moduli of coating and substrate and the strengthening produced. Thus, the elastic repulsion of dislocations from the coating-substrate interface was also considered to be unimportant as a mechanism. None of the results suggested that the suppression of surface Frank-Read sources or coating-substrate incompatibility made an important contribution to the strengthening effect. Significant film strengthening effects were always accompanied by cracking of the coating either prior to or during deformation. Associated with film cracking was an increase in dislocation density at the substrate surface. This surface damage which resulted from residual stresses in the coating is believed to be the critical factor in producing the film strengthening effects which were observed.
Atomic resolution structure of biotin-free Tyr43Phe streptavidin: what is in the binding site?

The streptavidin–biotin system is an example of a high-affinity protein–ligand pair (Ka ≃ 1013 mol−1). The thermodynamic and structural properties have been extensively studied as a model system for protein–ligand interactions. Here, the X-ray crystal structure of a streptavidin mutant of a residue hydrogen bonding to biotin [Tyr43Phe (Y43F)] is reported at atomic resolution (1.14 A). The biotin-free structure was refined with anisotropic displacement parameters (using the SHELXL97 program package). The high-resolution data also allowed interpretation of side-chain and residue disorder in 41 residues where alternate conformations were refined. The Y43F mutation is unambiguously observed in difference maps, although only a single O atom per monomer is altered. The atomic resolution enabled the identification of 2-methyl-2,4-pentanediol (MPD) molecules in the biotin-binding pocket for the first time. Electron density for MPD was observed in all four subunit binding sites of the tetrameric protein. This was not possible with data at lower resolution (1.8–2.3 A) for wild-type streptavidin or mutants in the same crystal form using MPD in the crystallization. The impact of MPD binding on these studies is discussed.
Coupling characteristics of thin‐film metal‐oxide‐metal diodes at 10.6 μ

Coherent coupling of 10.6‐μm radiation into high‐resistance photolithographically fabricated metal‐oxide‐metal tunnel junctions has been demonstrated in direct detection experiments.
Knowledge-based learning integrating acquisition and learning

Empirical learning algorithms are hampered by their inability to use domain knowledge to guide the induction of new rules. This paper describes knowledge-based learning, an approach to learning that selects the examples and relevant attributes for an empirical algorithm. Knowledge-based learning can be used for developing rules for engineering expert systems. Engineers often have some rules for problem solving, but also many experiences (examples) that facilitate solving problems. Knowledge-based learning systems are able to use both forms of knowledge.
Application of the singular value decomposition to the numerical computation of the coefficients of amplitude equations and normal forms

Abstract The Fredholm alternative is a standard procedure by which one generates the coefficients of amplitude equations and normal forms. The alternative requires that the inhomogeneous terms in the underlying system of differential equations, which contain the unknown coefficients, be orthogonal to the independent eigenvectors spanning the null space of the adjoint system of differential equations. The numerical computation of the adjoint eigenvectors and their application to solvability is frequently difficult and inefficient. Typically the underlying system of the inhomogeneous differential equation is discretized and solved as an inhomogeneous matrix-valued eigenvalue problem. We find that the solvability conditions which lead to values of the unknown coefficients are conviniently and economically computed by application of the singular value decomposition directly to the matrix formulation, avoiding completely the computation of an adjoint system of differential equations.
Cheesemaking by Ultrafiltration

Abstract The making of soft, fresh, and ripened cheese by ultrafiltration techniques is described and the research potential explored. Cheesemaking by ultrafiltration lends itself to continuous processes and to better control over composition and quality. Advantages are reduced use of rennet, salt, and color and larger yields of cheese. Ultrafiltration whey is crystal clear and devoid of protein. The ultrafiltration process for cheese developed by French investigators may transform radically current cheesemaking procedures.
Heat transfer in laminar and turbulent liquid-metal MHD flows in square ducts with thin conducting or insulating walls

Abstract The heat transfer in fully-developed liquid-metal flows in a square duct with a uniform, transverse magnetic field is analyzed. Velocity profiles obtained for laminar and turbulent regimes [Cuevas, S., Picologlou, B. F., Walker, J. S. and Talmage, G., Int. J. Engng Sci. , 1997, 35 , 485] are employed to solve the heat transfer equation through finite differences, in a duct with one side wall (parallel to the magnetic field) uniformly heated and three adiabatic walls. Turbulent effects are introduced through eddy viscous and thermal diffusivity models from the renormalization group theory of turbulence [Yakhot, V. and Orszag, S. A., J. Sci. Comput. , 1986, 1 (1), 3]. Analysis focuses in determining how the structure of the side-layer flow, influenced by the wall conductance ratio and Hartmann and Peclet numbers in the ranges of interest of fusion blanket applications, affects the heat transfer processes. Numerical calculations for liquid lithium show that for thin conducting wall duct cases, the laminar MHD heat transfer mechanism, characterized by high-velocity side-wall jets, appears to be more efficient than turbulent mixing in the boundary layer for a given Peclet number.
EFFECTS OF ELEVATED CARBOXYHEMOGLOBIN ON GAS EXCHANGE IN THE LUNG

Alveolar to arterial oxygen difference (A-aDO/sub 2/) should not change after CO inhalation by normal people but should increase in people with right to left shunts or V/Q imbalance. These calculations were confirmed by mesurements in several individuals. CO may depress arterial O/sub 2/ in people with chronic hypoxemia. The O/sub 2/Hb dissociation curve was thus shifted to the right.
CIF applications. XII. Inspecting Rietveld fits from pdCIF: pdCIFplot

A description is given of the pdCIFplot program. This program is used to inspect the quality of fits obtained from Rietveld refinements where the results are communicated in pdCIF files. The program runs on almost all contemporary operating systems.
DNS study of pulsed film cooling for enhanced cooling effectiveness

Direct Numerical Simulation (DNS) of a pulsed film-cooling jet is presented to examine if pulsations of the coolant jet can enhance film-cooling effectiveness. Calculations are performed for a cylindrical jet inclined at 30°. The jet pulsation is defined by the duty cycle (DC) and the Strouhal number (St), both of which are varied in this study. Baseline calculations are done for a steady blowing ratio of 1.5. Both frequency and duty cycle are observed to influence the cooling effectiveness. For a peak blowing ratio (M) of 1.5, pulsing with a St = 0.32 and DC = 0.5 is shown to reduce jet blow-off and improve centerline and spanwise-averaged effectiveness over the steady M = 1.5 case.
On the synthesis of nucleotides by nucleoside phosphotransferases.

Abstract Various tissues contain enzymes catalyzing the transfer of phosphoric acid from low-energy organic phosphates to nucleosides, thereby effecting the synthesis of nucleotides. The behavior of the enzyme present in malt is studied with respect to pH, acceptor and donor concentrations, and inorganic phosphate effects. The enzymes, for which the designation nucleoside phosphotransferases is proposed, appear to be specific for nucleosides. Three types of enzymes are described that differ in their specificities with respect to donors, acceptors and nucleotide isomers formed. The possible role of the nucleoside phosphotransferases in the biosynthesis of nucleic acids is discussed.
UThPb and RbSr systematics in 2700 × 106-year old plutons from the southern Wind River Range, Wyoming☆

To distinguish between episodic and continuous-diffusion loss mechanisms, and to compare the response of different parent-daughter systems to metamorphism, we have studied a series of well-exposed plutons, all about 2700 × 106 yr old and showing different degrees of metamorphism. The Louis Lake granodiorite pluton in the southern Wind River Range, Wyoming was selected to represent granitic rocks only slightly affected by later disturbances (intrusion of Precambrian diabase dikes and gentle Laramide uparching). Rb-Sr data on total-rock samples form a linear array on the Sr-evolution diagram, indicating that the pluton was emplaeed 2630 ± 20 × 106 yr ago (λRb87 = 1.39 × 10−11yr−1) with an initial Sr87Sr86 ratio of 0.702 ± 0.001. Data on cogenetic zircon fractions form a linear array on a coupled Pb-U evolution diagram with a primary intercept of 2687 ± 15 × 106 yr. The secondary intercept of 130 ±100 × 106 yr is distinctly lower than the 480 to 660 × 106 yr intercepts predicted by single-phase continuous-diffusion models. If the zircons reflect Laramide disturbance, this is not detected by the Rb-Sr data on mineral separates. Disturbance of these data is readily apparent only in rocks with high RbSr ratios and has yielded no apparent secondary ages younger than 2000 × 106 yr.
An empirical analysis of heuristics for solving the two-machine flow shop problem with job release times

The theoretical analysis of heuristics for solving intractable optimization problems has many well-known drawbacks. Constructed instances demonstrating an exceptionally poor worst-case performance of heuristics are typically too peculiar to occur in practice. Theoretical results on the average-case performance of most heuristics could not be established due to the difficulty with the use of probabilistic analysis. Moreover, the heuristics for which some type of asymptotic optimality has been proven are likely to perform questionably in practice. The purpose of this paper is to confront known theoretical results with our empirical results concerning heuristics for solving the strongly NP-hard problem of minimizing the makespan in a two-machine flow shop with job release times. The heuristics' performance is examined with respect to their average and maximum relative errors, as well as their optimality rate, that is, the probability of being optimal. In particular, this allows us to observe that the asymptotic optimality rate of so called ''almost surely asymptotically optimal'' heuristic can be zero. We also present a new heuristic with short worst-case running time and statistically prove that it outperforms all heuristics known so far. However, our empirical experiments reveal that the heuristic is on average slower that its competitors with much longer worst-case running times.
Management of vasodilatory shock after cardiac surgery: Identification of predisposing factors and use of a novel pressor agent

Abstract Background: Cardiopulmonary bypass can be associated with vasodilatory hypotension requiring pressor support. We have previously found arginine vasopressin to be a remarkably effective pressor in a variety of vasodilatory shock states. We investigated the incidence and clinical predictors of vasodilatory shock in a general population of cardiac surgical patients and the effects of low-dose arginine vasopressin as treatment of this syndrome in patients with heart failure. Methods: Patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass (n = 145) were studied prospectively. Preoperative ejection fraction, medications, and perioperative hemodynamics were recorded, and postbypass serum arginine vasopressin levels were measured. Vasodilatory shock was defined as a mean arterial pressure lower than 70 mm Hg, a cardiac index greater than 2.5 L/min/m 2 , and norepinephrine dependence. Predictors of vasodilatory shock were investigated by logistic regression analysis. The hemodynamic responses of patients who received arginine vasopressin infusions for vasodilatory shock after cardiopulmonary bypass for left ventricular assist device placement or heart transplantation were analyzed retrospectively. Results: Eleven of 145 general cardiac surgery patients (8%) met criteria for postbypass vasodilatory shock. By multivariate analysis, an ejection fraction lower than 0.35 and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor use were independent predictors of postbypass vasodilatory shock (relative risks of 9.1 and 11.9, respectively). Vasodilatory shock was associated with inappropriately low serum arginine vasopressin concentrations (12.0 ± 6.6 pg/mL). Retrospective analysis found 40 patients with postbypass vasodilatory shock who received low-dose arginine vasopressin infusions, resulting in increased mean arterial pressure and decreased norepinephrine requirements. Conclusions: Low ejection fraction and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor use are risk factors for postbypass vasodilatory shock, and this syndrome is associated with vasopressin deficiency. In patients exhibiting this syndrome after high-risk cardiac operations, replacement of arginine vasopressin increases blood pressure and reduces catecholamine pressor requirements. (J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1998;116:973-80)
Differential effects of anxiogenic central and peripheral benzodiazepine receptor ligands in tests of learning and memory.

Previous research has demonstrated that low doses of anxiogenic central benzodiazepine receptor (CBR) ligands, the beta-carbolines, improve performance in various learning and memory tests in animals if administered prior to training. The present experiments compared the effect of a beta-carboline (FG 7142) with that of a pharmacologically distinct anxiogenic compound, a peripheral benzodiazepine receptor (PBR) ligand, 4′-chlorodiazepam (Ro5-4864), in two tests of learning and memory in rats. As expected, FG 7142 significantly improved performance in a passive avoidance test. Ro5-4864 was without effect. In a shuttlebox escape test, Ro5-4864 significantly impaired performance while FG 7142 had no effect. The effect of Ro5-4864 was antagonized by the specific peripheral benzodiazepine receptor antagonist, PK 11195. These results indicate that the differential impact of CBR and PBR anxiogenic ligands on performance in aversively-motivated learning tests may be a reflection of their distinct pharmacologies.
The bis-Electrophile Diepoxybutane Cross-Links DNA to Human Histones but Does Not Result in Enhanced Mutagenesis in Recombinant Systems

1,2-Dibromoethane and 1,3-butadiene are cancer suspects present in the environment and have been used widely in industry. The mutagenic properties of 1,2-dibromoethane and the 1,3-butadiene oxidation product diepoxybutane are thought to be related to the bis-electrophilic character of these chemicals. The discovery that overexpression of O6-alkylguanine alkyltransferase (AGT) enhances bis-electrophile-induced mutagenesis prompted a search for other proteins that may act by a similar mechanism. A human liver screen for nuclear proteins that cross-link with DNA in the presence of 1,2-dibromoethane identified histones H2b and H3 as candidate proteins. Treatment of isolated histones H2b and H3 with diepoxybutane resulted in DNA−protein cross-links and produced protein adducts, and DNA−histone H2b cross-links were identified (immunochemically) in Escherichia coli cells expressing histone H2b. However, heterologous expression of histone H2b in E. coli failed to enhance bis-electrophile-induced mutagenesis. Thes...
Effect of estradiol on brain maturation: dose and time response relationships.

Single injections of estradiol dipropionate in the doses of 50, 100, 150 and 200 μg/100 g body wt were administered postnatally to newborn rats beginning on day 4 and ending on day 12 of age. Brain maturation, assessed by maximal electroshock seizure responses, was significantly hastened by 200 μg/100 g body wt administered on days 5, 6, 7 and 10, 150 μg on day 10,100 μg on days 6 and 7, and 50 μg on days 6 and 7 of age. Increased brain excitability was also observed for 6 months after estradiol administration (100 μg/100 g body wt) by a lengthening of tonic extension and/or shortening of tonic flexion. Ovarian atrophy, hypophysial hypertrophy, adrenal atrophy and alterations in the estrous cycle were observed. These data show that a dose of 50 μg/100 g body wt, administered to the infant rat at a critical period (6 and 7 days of age) during development, hastens brain maturation. (Endocrinology 78: 1130,1966)
Trace element analyses of spectroscopically pure silicon dioxide by instrumental neutron activation analysis

Spectroscopically pure, 99.999% silicon dioxide (SiO2) from five different companies was analysed for trace element impurities by instrumental neutron activation analysis using semiconductor detectors and gamma-ray spectrometry. If large amounts of these purified SiO2 samples are added to, geological samples with low trace element contents e.g., mineral separates such as quartz, feldspar and olivine, the trace element contents of the SiO2 are a significant contaminant.
Outcome of treatment for breast cancer patients with chest wall recurrence according to initial stage: implications for post-mastectomy radiation therapy.

Abstract Purpose The impact of postmastectomy radiation therapy (PMRT) on overall survival (OS) for patients with Stage II breast cancer with 1–3 positive lymph nodes is controversial. We sought to compare the outcome of salvage treatment for patients with chest wall recurrence (CWR) according to initial disease stage to shed light on the potential benefit of PMRT in specific subgroups of patients. Methods We retrospectively reviewed information concerning 96 patients with CWR who were not previously treated with PMRT. The patients were divided according to their initial extent of disease: T1–T2N0 (Group 1), T1–T2 with 1–3 positive lymph nodes (Group 2), and T3-T4 or ≥4 positive lymph nodes (Group 3). The OS and distant metastasis–free survival (DMFS) from the time of CWR were compared using the method of Kaplan and Meier, and a Cox regression model was used for a multivariate analysis. Results Group 1 had an improved OS and DMFS compared with Group 2 and Group 3 ( p p = 0.250 and p = 0.492, respectively). The respective 5-year rates for the three groups were as follows: OS 79.9% vs. 41.9% vs. 29.1%; DMFS 75.2% vs. 33.6% vs. 25.9%. Conclusions Breast cancer patients with T1–T2N0 breast cancer who develop a CWR have a significantly better outcome than those with lymph node–positive disease. Patients with T1–T2 tumors and one to three positive lymph nodes have a similar outcome after CWR as those with larger tumors or more than four positive lymph nodes. These data should be considered when weighing the risks and benefits of PMRT for patients with Stage II breast cancer with one to three positive lymph nodes.
Free-electron lasers without inversion: principles and proposed realizations

The small-gain regime of free-electron lasers without inversion (FELWI) is considered and seeming contradictions with the traditional theory of FEL are resolved. As a result, a generalized Madey's theorem is obtained for the case of a phase shift given to electrons between the two wigglers. It explicitly demonstrates the contribution of interference of radiation from the wigglers. It is shown, by considering the motion in the phase-space, that Liouville's theorem applied to the motion of electrons in a two-dimensional (rather than one-dimensional) real space is consistent with a non-zero integral of the gain over electron energies. These conclusions are crucial for the achievement of orders-of-magnitude improvement in the FEL gain in the case of a large electron energy spread.
Effect of hot phonons on the ultrafast relaxation of holes in GaAs

The ultrafast relaxation of electron-hole plasma photoexcited by a subpicosecond laser pulse in GaAs is investigated using ont Carlo method. The photoexcited carrier concentration is assumed to be 5x10 cm , and thephoton energy is assumed to 1.82 eV. The interaction between the heavy-holes and hot LO phonons has a minor effect on the cooling rates and the shape of hot phonon distribution but leads to an increased energy loss rates through the deformation potential interaction to compensate for the energy gained via LO phonon absorption.