cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Monitoring the enzymatic polymerization of 4-phenylphenol by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry: a novel approach.

Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry is a powerful tool for polymer characterization. It has been used to understand the enzymatic polymerization of 4-phenylphenol and to monitor number average molecular weight and weight average molecular weight of the polymer as a function of systematic addition of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in the reaction. A novel method, an introduction of internal standard for quantification of data, has been developed for MALDI-TOF MS to investigate the fate of each mers during the reaction. The preliminary data suggest that this approach provides new insight on the enzymatic synthesis, which is not available by other techniques. For the first time, we are able to understand the fate of several mers as a function of reaction conditions. The relative content of each mer increases with the addition of H2O2, except for dimer and trimer. For example, the concentration of dimer species decreases as a function of H2O2. On the other hand, ...
Simulation of adaptive response: A model of drug interdiction

This paper presents a Monte Carlo simulation of the smuggling and interdiction of illicit drugs that explicitly allows for adaptation across routes and modes. The model is used to examine several issues surrounding the interdiction of cocaine shipments into the U.S. It suggests that back-of-the-envelope estimates of interdiction's effectiveness may be overly optimistic if they neglect the existence of a backstop technology (smuggling small shipments over land), the concavity of smugglers' costs as a function of the fraction of all routes on which the interdiction rate is increased, and the fact that not all smuggling costs are caused by interdiction. When one considers these factors, it appears that only under truly exceptional circumstances would one expect increasing interdiction to have a substantial impact on U.S. cocaine consumption.
Extension of Operating Range Towards Lower Pressures of MEMS-based Thermal Vacuum Gauges by Laser-Induced Heating

Bulk micromachined Pirani pressure gauges have been processed on 1 μm thick silicon nitride membranes and on 1 μm thick nitride bridges resembling an H-shaped structure with the meander-shaped heating element positioned in the crossbar region of the H. For the membrane device, the resistor element is fabricated from 20 nm Cr/200 nm Au and for the H-shaped device from 30 nm Ni. The choice of using an H-shaped device and thinner, different metal was governed by the desire to increase the thermal resistances of the silicon nitride support structure and of the metal lines connecting the resistor element to the silicon cold junction, thus obtaining larger sensitivity and increased pressure range. It will be demonstrated that by heating the resistor elements via photon absorption using a green solid state laser as compared to Joules I2 R heating, the relative resistance change versus pressure dependency shifts by about one order of magnitude towards lower pressures for both device structures. This fact is desirable for measuring pressures in the 1x10-3 to 1x10-6 Torr range using these miniaturized gauges.
Monte Carlo study of search statistics

Abstract We describe and summarize results obtained from Monte Carlo studies of the random scanning problem. We give results and biases using various estimators of the interesting quantities. The emphasis is on experiments with ≅ 10 events and modest scan efficiency, i.e. ≅ 80%. We briefly describe the program used in this study.
Pb diffusion in Cr diopside, augite, and enstatite, and consideration of the dependence of cation diffusion in pyroxene on oxygen fugacity

Abstract Chemical diffusion of Pb under anhydrous, pO2-buffered conditions has been measured in natural pyroxenes of three different compositions: a chromian diopside, an augitic clinopyroxene, and a near-end member enstatite. Sources of diffusant consisted of PbS powder and ground pyroxene mixed together, pre-reacted in evacuated silica capsules at 1050°C, and re-ground. Prepared sample capsules were annealed for times ranging from several hours to a few months, at temperatures from 850°C to 1050°C. The Pb distributions in the pyroxene specimens were profiled by Rutherford Backscattering Spectrometry (RBS). The following Arrhenius relations are obtained for Pb diffusion in the pyroxenes when buffered at QFM: D C =8.7×10 −7 exp (−351±36 kJ mol −1 /RT) m 2 s −1 . ( Cr diopside ) D A =3.8×10 −5 exp (−372±15 kJ mol −1 /RT) m 2 s −1 . ( augite ) D E =6.6×10 −7 exp (−366±29 kJ mol −1 /RT) m 2 s −1 . ( enstatite ) In all cases, diffusion is measured perpendicular to the c-axis. Diffusion in Cr diopside does not appear to be strongly anisotropic, as diffusion rates for transport parallel to c are similar to the (110) results above. Diffusion in the augite is faster (by nearly an order of magnitude) than Pb diffusion in the Cr diopside. Diffusion tends to be faster in pyroxenes with higher iron contents as was evident in our earlier work (Chemical Geology 150 (1998a) 105), but simple correlations are not obvious. Pb diffusion in enstatite is considerably slower than in the clinopyroxene compositions studied. To investigate the fO2 dependence of Pb diffusion in pyroxene, experiments using the Cr diopside, augite, and enstatite, as well as the near end-member diopside and a more iron rich clinopyroxene employed in a recent diffusion study (Chemical Geology 150 (1998a) 105), were run at 950°C under oxygen fugacities ranging from 10−6 to 10−16. All of the pyroxenes exhibited a positive dependence of Pb diffusion rate on fO2, with values of m ranging from 0.14 to 0.20, given D∝(fO2)m. Interestingly, the exponential term for diopside is 0.19, in good agreement with the value +3/16 determined from point defect models for diffusion mechanisms controlled by cation vacancies (J. Geophys. Res. 99 (1994) 9423). The activation energies for Pb diffusion in all of the pyroxenes studied are relatively high, and Pb diffusivities slow when compared with the extant diffusion data for most other minerals. It follows, as consequence of these comparatively slow diffusivities, that Pb closure temperatures are higher in pyroxenes than for the majority of minerals, with the exception of a few phases such as zircon, monazite, and garnet. The slightly faster diffusivities that characterize Fe-rich clinopyroxenes will lead to somewhat depressed closure temperatures, but pyroxenes in general should be fairly retentive of Pb isotopic information when subjected to all but the most extreme thermal events.
Biofilm formation by clinical isolates and the implications in chronic infections

Biofilm formation is a major virulence factor contributing to the chronicity of infections. To date few studies have evaluated biofilm formation in infecting isolates of patients including both Gram-positive and Gram-negative multidrug-resistant (MDR) species in the context of numerous types of infectious syndromes. Herein, we investigated the biofilm forming capacity in a large collection of single patient infecting isolates and compared the relationship between biofilm formation to various strain characteristics. The biofilm-forming capacity of 205 randomly sampled clinical isolates from patients, collected from various anatomical sites, admitted for treatment at Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) from 2004–2011, including methicillin-resistant/methicillin susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA/MSSA) (n=23), Acinetobacter baumannii (n=53), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n=36), Klebsiella pneumoniae (n=54), and Escherichia coli (n=39), were evaluated for biofilm formation using the high-throughput microtiter plate assay and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Relationships between biofilm formation to clonal type, site of isolate collection, and MDR phenotype were evaluated. Furthermore, in patients with relapsing infections, serial strains were assessed for their ability to form biofilms in vitro. Of the 205 clinical isolates tested, 126 strains (61.4%) were observed to form biofilms in vitro at levels greater than or equal to the Staphylococcus epidermidis, positive biofilm producing strain, with P. aeruginosa and S. aureus having the greatest number of biofilm producing strains. Biofilm formation was significantly associated with specific clonal types, the site of isolate collection, and strains positive for biofilm formation were more frequently observed to be MDR. In patients with relapsing infections, the majority of serial isolates recovered from these individuals were observed to be strong biofilm producers in vitro. This study is the first to evaluate biofilm formation in a large collection of infecting clinical isolates representing diverse types of infections. Our results demonstrate: (1) biofilm formation is a heterogeneous property amongst clinical strains which is associated with certain clonal types, (2) biofilm forming strains are more frequently isolated from non-fluid tissues, in particular bone and soft tissues, (3) MDR pathogens are more often biofilm formers, and (4) strains from patients with persistent infections are positive for biofilm formation.
Specialty Static RAMs Fuel Development Of High Performance Architectures

As system speed requirements increase, designers often find it to their advantage to go beyond the use of traditional design alternatives, using devices which have previously been unavailable. One of the newer breed of ICs which help boost system performance is the specialty memory. These memories incorporate new functions and features to simplify the design of extremely high performance systems. One of the fastest blossoming fields of specialty memories is specialty static RAMs. This is mostly due to the fact that static RAMs have always been used in high speed cache and graphics processor design, a trend which has forced SRAM manufacturers to strive to provide the fastest speed devices possible. The speed of these devices is often augmented by the addition of simple logic functions, which can be implemented on the memory chip itself at a delay penalty of only about 0.5 to 2.0ns. By doing this, the speed of any critical path which contains a static RAM can be considerably improved. Another, more unusual approach is to perform changes to the actual static RAM array itself. This approach is more costly, but can add benefits which can be achieved no other way. Examples of such architectures include dual-ported cells, which are used in FlFOs as well as dual-port RAMs, and content-addressable memories (CAMs) which are usually implemented in lookup tables within virtual memory management units (MMUs). A newer device, which has only been available for about a year is the FourPort memory, a device which allows simultaneous 25ns random access to the same emeory array from four independent ports.
The phylogeny of gutierrezia: An eclectic approach

One approach to the problem of deducing the genealogy of a set of organisms is to propose several hypotheses using different procedures, based on different evolutionary inferences. Such an approach was followed here, and four different phylogenies were constructed, three of them computer built. Consistency with independently obtained phenetic, cytological, and phytogeographical data was used to select the most probable phylogenetic tree among the four. It is shown that the most probable tree is one constructed under the assumption that character states found close to the mean and/or modal values for the genus are primitive. It is also shown that certain phylogenetic conclusions obtain in all four phylogenies.
OWA aggregation of intuitionistic fuzzy sets

We recall the concept of an intuitionistic fuzzy subset (IFS). Fundamental to an IFS is the fact that it is defined using two values, a degree of membership and degree of non-membership. The ordered weighted averaging (OWA) operator is introduced and several of its features are described. Particularly notable is the idea of the dual of an OWA operator. We next discuss the aggregation of a collection of IFS using a prescribed OWA operator. It is shown that while the aggregation of the degrees of membership is performed using the prescribed OWA operator, the aggregation of the degrees of non-membership requires use of the dual of the prescribed OWA operator. The Choquet integral aggregation operator is introduced and applied to the aggregation of IFSs. Here again the concept of the dual is needed to perform the aggregation of the degrees of non-membership. We also discuss the aggregation of IFSs using the Sugeno integral. Fundamental to this work is our realisation of the importance of the concept of the du...
Dermatological Therapy by Topical Application of Non-Pathogenic Bacteria

The microbial community inhabiting skin is an important part of its defense, acting to control immune responses and to influence susceptibility to pathogens. In this issue, Volz et al. report that Vitreoscilla filiformis extracts modulate mouse cutaneous inflammatory responses induces of interleukin-10 production in dendritic cells and priming of regulatory T cells. These findings in a mouse model of atopic dermatitis advance observations of links between bacteria and host immunity, and they provide further evidence for novel therapeutic strategies to treat inflammation in skin.
Rapid anti-helminthic response of B lymphocytes in the intestinal mucosal tissues of rats.

Abstract B cell response to Trichinella spiralis (Ts) adult antigen (Ag) was studied in rats 1–20 days postinfection. B cell recoveries from the mesenteric lymph node (MLN), Peyer's patches (PP), thoracic duct lymph (TDL), and the spleen were determined by FACS analysis and Ag-specific antibody-producing cells (Ab-pc) in these tissues were enumerated using the immunoplaque assay. Total B cell numbers increased 2–70 times from day 3 postinfection in the MLN and TDL obtained from MLN-resected rats (MX) and such proliferation was not found in the PP or the spleen. Ab-pc of all isotypes increased from day 3 in the MLN and from day 2 in the MX-TDL. Among all isotypes, IgE- and IgG1-pc showed the strongest response. Immunofluorescence study revealed that these B cells were activated in the non-PP region of the small intestine. These results indicate an early isotype switch to IgG1 and IgE production in Ts-infected small intestine.
Flatter than a Pancake: Why Scanning Herbarium Sheets Shouldn't Make Them Disappear

Herbaria are collections of preserved plant specimens, primarily composed of paper sheets with pressed plants or plant parts attached to them. The most valuable kind of sheet is the holotype specimen. This is the specific plant that was used in describing the species by the person who first identified it. Botanists must reference the holotype when reclassifying or renaming a species. In the past, this meant either borrowing the sheet or visiting the herbarium in which it was housed. With digitization of these sheets, there is much greater and easier access to this information. However, digital images are not substitutes for the sheets themselves. This article will discuss why this is the case, why scanning herbarium sheets is still worthwhile effort, and why the sheets themselves are still necessary to plant research.
MindNet: An Automatically-Created Lexical Resource

We will demonstrate MindNet, a lexical resource built automatically by processing text. We will present two forms of MindNet: as a static lexical resource, and, as a toolkit which allows MindNets to be built from arbitrary text. We will also introduce a web-based interface to MindNet lexicons (MNEX) that is intended to make the data contained within MindNets more accessible for exploration. Both English and Japanese MindNets will be shown and will be made available, through MNEX, for research purposes.
Effective elastic modulus of film-on-substrate systems under normal and tangential contact

Abstract Load and depth sensing indentation methods have been widely used to characterize the mechanical properties of the thin film–substrate systems. The measurement accuracy critically depends on our knowledge of the effective elastic modulus of this heterogeneous system. In this work, based on the exact solution of the Green's function in Fourier space, we have derived an analytical relationship between the surface tractions and displacements, which depends on the ratio of the film thickness to contact size and the generalized Dundurs parameters that describe the modulus mismatch between the film and substrate materials. The use of the cumulative superposition method shows that the contact stiffness of any axisymmetric contact is the same as that of a flat-ended punch contact. Therefore, assuming a surface traction of the form of [1−( r / a ) 2 ] −1/2 with radial coordinate r and contact size a , we can obtain an approximate representation of the effective elastic moduli, which agree extremely well with the finite element simulations for both normal and tangential contacts. Motivated by a recently developed multidimensional nanocontact system, we also explore the dependence of the ratio of tangential to normal contact stiffness on the ratio of film thickness to contact radius and the Dundurs parameters. The analytical representations of the correction factors in the relationship between the contact stiffness and effective modulus are derived at infinite friction conditions.
Emergency department utilization by HIV-positive adults in the HAART era

No published study has analyzed emergency department (ED) utilization by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive adults in the highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) era. The purpose of this study is to describe the demographic and HIV-specific variables associated with ED utilization by HIV-positive adults and their diagnoses when discharged from the ED or subsequently from the hospital. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of all HIV-positive adults cared for at a tertiary center HIV clinic and ED (1 January–31 December 2006). Demographic, HIV clinical, and HIV lab variables were abstracted from the clinic database. ED/hospital diagnoses coded by the ICD-9 Diseases/Injuries Tabular Index were abstracted from identified discharge records. We used multivariate logistic regression to compute odds ratios (OR) of ED utilization based on the abstracted variables. We described the cohort and diagnoses using descriptive statistics. A total of 356 patients met inclusion criteria. Their mean age was 42.7 years, and 77.2% of included patients were male; 52.5% were Caucasian and 47.5% non-Caucasian; 72 patients (20.2%) presented to the ED during the study period [153 visits; 37 (10.4%) required hospitalization (61/153 visits)]. Income level and mean 2006 viral load had a significant association (p < 0.05) with ED utilization. Of 155 ICD-9 ED discharge diagnoses, ill-defined symptoms/signs (25.2%), injury (18.7%), and musculoskeletal disorders (11.6%) were most prevalent. Of 450 ICD-9 hospital discharge diagnoses, endocrine/metabolic (13.3%), psychiatric (12.2%), infectious/parasitic (12%), and circulatory disorders (11.8%) were most prevalent. In this study of HIV-positive adults, income level and mean 2006 viral load had a significant association with ED utilization. Noninfectious diagnoses were alone most prevalent in ED discharged, but not hospitalized, patients.
Areas, anti-derivatives, and adding up pieces: Definite integrals in pure mathematics and applied science contexts

Abstract Research in mathematics and science education reveals a disconnect for students as they attempt to apply their mathematical knowledge to science and engineering. With this conclusion in mind, this paper investigates a particular calculus topic that is used frequently in science and engineering: the definite integral. The results of this study demonstrate that certain conceptualizations of the definite integral, including the area under a curve and the values of an anti-derivative, are limited in their ability to help students make sense of contextualized integrals. In contrast, the Riemann sum-based “adding up pieces” conception of the definite integral (renamed in this paper as the “multiplicatively-based summation” conception) is helpful and useful in making sense of a variety of applied integral expressions and equations. Implications for curriculum and instruction are discussed.
Determinants of perceived agricultural chemical risk in three watersheds in the Midwestern United States

Abstract Recent epidemiologic research on the relationship between agricultural chemical use and human health has focused on possible risks to both farmers and nonfarm publics through such avenues as airborne chemical drift and contamination of drinking water. While agricultural chemical use has been defined as a public health issue, decisions about applying chemicals are made primarily by individual farmers who consider not only highly publicized health and environmental risks but also potentially severe economic risks of not using chemicals for production of food and fiber. The critical decision-making role played by farmers relative to agricultural chemical use creates a need for accurate information on their perceptions of various chemical-related hazards and the factors that may influence such judgments. Understanding farmers’ perceptions toward agricultural chemical risk is essential to formulate effective risk-mitigation programs and policies and to target educational and technical assistance programs that encourage sound chemical practices at the farm level. This paper reports findings from a study of 1011 farm operators in three Midwestern watersheds in Ohio, Iowa, and Minnesota to assess their perceptions of risk associated with use of agricultural chemicals. A theoretical model developed from components of social learning, risk perception, and farm structure theories is used to identify predictors of agricultural chemical risk. Findings show that farmers in the three watersheds do not view agricultural chemical use as a serious health or environmental hazard. Regression findings provide partial support for the theoretical model. The statistical models explained from 30 to 37% of the variance in farmers’ risk perceptions in the three study watersheds. Findings are discussed in the context of developing future education/information programs in the three watersheds.
Materials for advanced nuclear systems

Recent develo p m e n t s h ave lead to renewed interest in building nuclear power plants; among these are the cost of oil, the need for clean, stable domestic energy sources in the United States, the growing consensus on carbon dioxide contributions to global warming, and the new Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP) initiative. The TMS/ASM Nuclear Materials Committee this month presents two papers focusing on materials needs for advanced nuclear systems, one providing details on the GNEP and the other considering the material needs of space-based nuclear power plants. The GNEP in essence looks to close the fuel cycle, which means returning plutonium and other actinides back to reactors and using them as fuel rather than the “once-through, direct-disposal” approach. As a component of this new initiative the U.S. Department of Energy, offi ce of Basic Energy Sciences, organized a workshop in July 2006 to examine Materials for Advanced Nuclear Systems
Theoretical guarantees on penalized information gathering

Optimal measurement selection for inference is combinatorially complex and intractable for large scale problems. Under mild technical conditions, it has been proven that greedy heuristics combined with conditional mutual information rewards achieve performance within a factor of the optimal. Here we provide conditions under which cost-penalized mutual information may achieve similar guarantees. Specifically, if the cost of a measurement is proportional to the information it conveys, the bounds proven in [4] and [10] still apply.
Effects of two different patterns of estradiol replacement on the sexual behavior of rhesus monkeys.

Abstract Seven pairs of rhesus monkeys consisting of adult males and adult, ovariectomized females were tested for sexual behavior. Behavioral tests were conducted under two patterns of estradiol treatment of the females. Under the “constant estrogen” condition, females were given SC injections of 10 μg estradiol benzoate on 28 consecutive days. Under the “cyclic estrogen” condition, females were given 28 days of estradiol treatment at varying doses based upon the artificial menstrual cycle devised by Michael, Zumpe and Bonsall (6). Rates of male mounting, hip-touch (incomplete mounts), and male threaten-away behavior (redirected aggression) increased during estradiol administration. Mounting peaked at the time of the highest estrogen dosage in the cyclic treatment condition, but was highest during the first portion of the period of constant treatment. Hip-touch and threaten-away behaviors were more frequent in the constant condition than during cyclic treatment. The high levels of these behaviors during the constant treatment suggest a lack of coordination between male and female motivation which is overcome by providing estradiol stimulation in a pattern which mimics the menstrual cycle.
Anti-infectives Clinical progress of HIV-1 integrase inhibitors

Background: HIV-1 integrase (IN) represents a therapeutically advantageous viral target to treat HIV/AIDS in the clinic. Over a decade of progress in the field has resulted in IN inhibitor chemical classes that display specificity for strand transfer catalysis of the enzyme, thus blocking viral DNA integration into host cell nuclear DNA, an essential step for viral infectivity. Objective: In this manuscript we provide an update on recent HIV-1 IN inhibitors that have been clinically evaluated, which include MK-0518, MK-2048, GS-9137, GS-9160, GS-9224, GSK-364735, and BMS-707035. The information presented here can aid in the IN drug developmental process. Methods: We have limited the scope of this review to information available on the clinical evaluation of promising strand transfer-specific IN inhibitors and their potential drug–drug interaction profiles with other antiretroviral agents. Results/conclusion: The development of strand transfer-specific inhibitor classes is an important achievement for the ...
PRIVATIZATION AND JUST HEALTHCARE

When advocates of insurance-privatization consider whether private insurance-dominated systems achieve justice at all, they tend to rely on an incomplete set of criteria for a just healthcare system. They also mistakenly assume that it is enough to show that justice is in principle achievable within a private insurance-dominated system. This essay offers a more complete set of criteria for a just healthcare system. It then argues that the motivational assumptions needed to make insurance-privatization at all plausible (on grounds of choice, efficiency, and quality of care) are inconsistent with the motivational assumptions needed to show that in practice a private insurance-dominated system will achieve justice. A private insurance-dominated system can be expected to satisfy the criteria for just healthcare only if (a) there is extensive and effective regulation to constrain the normal competitive behavior of private insurers or if (b) generous public funds are provided to fill the gaps in access left by the private insurance market. Yet the assumptions about the motivations and abilities of the public, regulators, and public officials needed to satisfy conditions (a) or (b) contradict the privatization advocate's explanations of how privatization will maximize efficiency, choice, and quality of care.
Insulin Stimulates the Serine Phosphorylation of the Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription (STAT3) Isoform

Insulin stimulation of Chinese hamster ovary cells expressing the human insulin receptor and differentiated 3T3L1 adipocytes resulted in a time-dependent reduction in the SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic mobility of STAT3. The decreased STAT3 mobility initially occurred by 2 min and was quantitative by 5 min. In addition, the change in STAT3 mobility was concentration-dependent and was detectable at 0.3 nm insulin with maximal effect between 1 and 3 nm. Although both these cell types also express the STAT1 alpha, STAT1 beta, STAT5, and STAT6 isoforms, only STAT3 was observed to undergo an insulin-dependent reduction in mobility. Immuno-precipitation of STAT1 and STAT3 from 32P-labeled cells demonstrated that only STAT3 was phosphorylated in response to insulin whereas phosphoamino acid analysis indicated that this phosphorylation event occurred exclusively on serine residues. Furthermore, treatment of cell extracts with alkaline phosphatase reversed the insulin-stimulated decrease in STAT3 mobility. Together, these data demonstrate that insulin is a specific activator of STAT3 serine phosphorylation without affecting the other STAT isoforms.
The Synergy Between Qualitative Theory, Quantitative Calculations, and Direct Experiments in Understanding, Calculating, and Measuring the Energy Differences Between the Lowest Singlet and Triplet States of Organic Diradicals

This perspective describes research, carried out in the authors' labs over the past forty years, aimed at understanding, predicting, and measuring the singlet–triplet energy differences (ΔEST) in diradicals. A theory for qualitatively predicting the ground states of diradicals and the use of Negative Ion Photoelectron Spectroscopy (NIPES) for measuring ΔEST are described. The application of this theory, ab initio calculations, and NIPES to the prediction and measurement of ΔEST in a wide variety of organic diradicals is detailed. Among the diradicals that are discussed in this perspective are HN, CH3N, PhN, CH2, trimethylenemethane (TMM), oxyallyl (OXA), meta-benzoquinodimethane (MBQDM), meta-benzoquinone (MBQ), tetramethyleneethane (TME), 1,2,4,5-tetramethylenebenzene (TMB), and D8h cyclooctatetraene (COT). All of these diradicals have been studied in one and, in most cases, in both of the authors’ laboratories. The studies of OXA and D8h COT were, in fact, collaborations between the research groups of the authors. These two projects both took advantage of the ability of NIPES to provide information about transition states. Transition-state spectroscopy was used to measure the carbonyl stretching frequency in the singlet state of OXA and to establish that D8h COT violates the strictest version of Hund's rule.
Targeted Sprouty1 overexpression in cardiac myocytes does not alter myocardial remodeling or function

The mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway regulates multiple events leading to heart failure including ventricular remodeling, contractility, hypertrophy, apoptosis, and fibrosis. The regulation of conserved intrinsic inhibitors of this pathway is poorly understood. We recently identified an up-regulation of Sprouty1 (Spry1) in a targeted approach for novel inhibitors of the MAPK signaling pathway in failing human hearts following reverse remodeling. The goal of this study was to test the hypothesis that up-regulated expression of Spry1 in cardiac myocytes would be sufficient to inhibit ERK1/2 activation and tissue remodeling. We established a murine model with up-regulated Spry1 expression in cardiac myocytes using the alpha-myosin heavy chain promoter (α-MHC). Heart weight and cardiac myocyte morphology were unchanged in adult male α-MHC–Spry1 mice compared to control mice. Ventricular function of α-MHC–Spry1 mice was unaltered at 8 weeks or 1 year of age. These findings were consistent with the lack of an effect of Spry1 on ERK1/2 activity. In summary, targeted up-regulation of Spry1 in cardiac myocytes is not sufficient to alter cell or tissue remodeling consistent with the lack of an effect on ERK1/2 activity.
Elastic constants of single‐crystal forsterite as a function of temperature and pressure

Adiabatic elastic stiffness constants of single crystal forsterite measured as function of hydrostatic pressure and temperature, using pulse superposition technique
Superior vena cava syndrome in lung cancer

Summary Superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS) consists of various symptoms and signs due to intrinsic obstruction or extrinsic compression of the superior vena cava. The most common etiology is thoracic malignancy, with lung cancer being the leading cause (80%). It usually presents with edema of the head, neck and arms, often associated with cyanosis, plethora and distended subcutaneous vessels. The diagnosis is commonly made from physical examination and confirmed by imaging, such as CT scan. SVCS is usually not a medical emergency, but can, in rare cases, cause cardiac or airway compromise, or cerebral edema, which may require urgent interventions such as thrombectomy or endovascular stenting. In lung cancer-related SVCS, radiation and/or chemotherapy are the main treatment options, and tissue diagnosis should be obtained before the initiation of definitive treatment if SVCS is the initial presentation. Randomized controlled trials are still lacking for optimal management of SVCS.
Use of A Monti Channel For Administration of Antegrade Continence Enemas

ABSTRACTPurpose: Success with Malone antegrade continence enemas (MACE) requires reliable access to the colon and a customized enema regimen. Use of the appendix in situ provides a natural and well-vascularized conduit. When the appendix is absent or inadequate, alternative techniques are required. We report our experience using Monti channels to administer antegrade continence enemas.Materials and Methods: Of the 106 MACE procedures performed in 53 months a Monti-MACE was created in 13. Indications for use of ileum, technique, ease of catheterization and incidence of complications were reviewed.Results: Mean followup was 21.7 months. Two patients had transient difficulty advancing the catheter into the cecum. Stoma revisions were required for critical stenosis in 2 patients (15.4%). Stoma leakage occurred in 1 patient after multiple stoma revisions.Conclusions: The Monti-MACE provides continent access to the colon for antegrade enemas. The rate of stomal revision is only slightly higher than that reporte...
Non-linear γ-ray activation of defect spins in vitreous silica

Abstract Previously published data showing electron spin resonance spin count versus ionizing radiation dose in bulk vitreous SiO 2 are compared for the two case of ∼ 1.25 MeV γ-rays and ∼ 8 keV X-rays. For both Suprasil 1 and Suprasil W1 materials, the non-linear production of paramagnetic states with increasing dose for γ-rays at doses below ∼ 175 Mrad is shown to have nearly identical forms to those for X-rays at doses below ∼ 8 Mrad. It is then argued that the non-linearity of the γ-ray data has the same physical origin as previously ascribed to the non-linearity of the X-ray data: an exponentially saturating ‘activation’ of pre-existing defects , accompanied by a linearly increasing number of newly created defects. The data for E′ and non-bridging oxygen hole center defects show that ∼ 1.25 MeV γ-rays are at least an order of magnitude more efficient per unit of dose for activating pre-existing defects than are ∼ 8 keV X-rays.
Chronicling a century of lead pollution in Mexico: stable lead isotopic composition analyses of dated sediment cores.

Analyses of lead isotopic compositions (204Pb,206Pb, 207Pb, and 208Pb) of dated sediment cores from two coastal estuaries and two inland lakes chronicle the predominance of industrial lead emissions in Mexico over the past century. These isotopic ratios exhibit a shift in composition from the turn of the previous century (1900) that corresponds with measurable increases (from 2- to 10-fold) in lead concentrations in the cores above their baseline values (3−22 μg/g)both changes are consistent with the development of Mexican lead production for export and the manufacture of tetraethyl lead additives for Mexican gasolines. While subsequent changes in lead concentrations in the cores correspond with calculated emissions from the combustion of leaded gasoline in Mexico, isotopic compositions of the cores remain relatively constant throughout most of the 1900s (e.g., 206Pb/207Pb = 1.200 ± 0.003; 208Pb/207Pb = 2.463 ± 0.004). That isotopic constancy is attributed to the widespread pollution from lead production ...
Urinary fibrin-fibrinogen degradation products and intraglomerular fibrin-fibrinogen deposition in various renal diseases.

Abstract The typing of the urinary fibrin-fibrinogen degradation products (FDP) and the deposition of fibrin-fibrinogen, factor XIII-subunit A (XIII-A) and factor XIII-subunit S (XIII-S) in the glomeruli were investigated in the children with several kinds of renal diseases. In acute glomerulonephritis with diffuse proliferative lesion, the urinary FDP were composed of fragments X,Y,D and E. There was no D-dimer fragment detected in the urine, although, mild deposition of fibrin-fibrinogen, XIII-A and XIII-S in the glomeruli was observed. The urinary FDP may be derived from plasma fibrinogen or serum FDP. In nephrotic syndrome with diffuse proliferative or focal global sclerosing lesion and in purpura nephritis with mesangial proliferation with crescents, the urinary FDP consisted of fragments X and Y, and lacked in D-dimer. In these cases, the major part of fibrin-fibrinogen in the glomeruli might be fibrinogen or non-cross-linked fibrin, and FDP excretion might arise from glomerular permeability or from lysis of fibrinogen or non-cross-linked fibrin. In one patient with hemolytic uremic syndrome and in another patient with systemic lupus erythematodes nephropathy, intense deposition of fibrin-fibrinogen, XIII-A and XIII-S within the glomerular capillaries or mesangial area were observed. In the urine of those cases, D-dimer was detected, which seems to reflect the lysis of cross-linked fibrin in the glomeruli.
A Distinct Mechanism of Vascular Lumen Formation in Xenopus Requires EGFL7

During vertebrate blood vessel development, lumen formation is the critical process by which cords of endothelial cells transition into functional tubular vessels. Here, we use Xenopus embryos to explore the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying lumen formation of the dorsal aorta and the posterior cardinal veins, the primary major vessels that arise via vasculogenesis within the first 48 hours of life. We demonstrate that endothelial cells are initially found in close association with one another through the formation of tight junctions expressing ZO-1. The emergence of vascular lumens is characterized by elongation of endothelial cell shape, reorganization of junctions away from the cord center to the periphery of the vessel, and onset of Claudin-5 expression within tight junctions. Furthermore, unlike most vertebrate vessels that exhibit specialized apical and basal domains, we show that early Xenopus vessels are not polarized. Moreover, we demonstrate that in embryos depleted of the extracellular matrix factor Epidermal Growth Factor-Like Domain 7 (EGFL7), an evolutionarily conserved factor associated with vertebrate vessel development, vascular lumens fail to form. While Claudin-5 localizes to endothelial tight junctions of EGFL7-depleted embryos in a timely manner, endothelial cells of the aorta and veins fail to undergo appropriate cell shape changes or clear junctions from the cell-cell contact. Taken together, we demonstrate for the first time the mechanisms by which lumens are generated within the major vessels in Xenopus and implicate EGFL7 in modulating cell shape and cell-cell junctions to drive proper lumen morphogenesis.
Petrographic analysis of Contact Period Native American pottery from Fort Hill (27CH85), Hinsdale, NH, USA

We present results of petrographic analysis of a sample of pottery from Fort Hill, a fortified village in southwestern New Hampshire built and occupied by a group of Native Americans between Autumn of 1663 and Spring of 1664. Our analyses reveal a surprising degree of variability in ceramic fabrics and in ceramic production techniques relative to that reported for contemporaneous and slightly earlier assemblages from southern and central New England. We explain the presence of this variability as likely reflecting the amalgamation of multiple ceramic traditions that would result from the presence of refugees within the community occupying Fort Hill.
Spectral method for non-Gaussian data generation by phase modeling: White noise phase versus structured phase

Abstract This paper presents a spectral method for non-Gaussian data generation by phase modeling. Independent random phases have been used in a standard spectral method. Thus, the use of structured phases for non-Gaussian series in EARPG(1)/UPS is innovative but appears to conflict with the conventional modeling concept. This paper revisits the method and clarifies a difference in framework, which is apparently the white noise phase versus the structured phase but essentially a change in the whole framework. This paper rebuts the claim by Kumar and Stathopoulos in this journal (Suresh Kumar and Stathopoulos, 1999) that EARPG(1)/UPS using structured phases is unnecessarily complicated and inefficient compared with their EPG considering phase whitening, which is misleading in regard to the new modeling concept and the major simulation capability. The rebuttal clarifies that the new approach is based on a non-conventional time series modeling focused on spiky peak generation and a filtering ability of Fourier representation of the model. This new concept establishes a new spectral framework suitable for large-scale spiky time history simulation, permitting local non-stochastic variations and high-resolution sharpness in addition to the statistical properties of usual time series models. Simulation of wind-induced excursion loading is demonstrated.
Adiposity and sex hormones across the menstrual cycle: the BioCycle Study.

To investigate the influence of adiposity on patterns of sex hormones across the menstrual cycle among regularly menstruating women. The BioCycle Study followed 239 healthy women for 1–2 menstrual cycles, with up to eight visits per cycle timed using fertility monitors. Serum estradiol (E2), progesterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) were measured at each visit. Adiposity was measured by anthropometry and by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Differences in hormonal patterns by adiposity measures were estimated using nonlinear mixed models, which allow for comparisons in overall mean levels, amplitude (i.e., lowest to highest level within each cycle) and shifts in timing of peaks while adjusting for age, race, energy intake and physical activity. Compared with normal weight women (n=154), obese women (body mass index (BMI) ⩾30 kg m−2, n=25) averaged lower levels of progesterone (−15%, P=0.003), LH (−17%, P=0.01), FSH (−23%, P=0.001) and higher free E2 (+22%, P=0.0001) across the cycle. To lesser magnitudes, overweight women (BMI: 25–30, n=60) also exhibited differences in the same directions for mean levels of free E2, FSH and LH. Obese women experienced greater changes in amplitude of LH (9%, P=0.002) and FSH (8%, P=0.004), but no differences were observed among overweight women. Higher central adiposity by top compared to bottom tertile of trunk-to-leg fat ratio by DXA was associated with lower total E2 (−14%, P=0.005), and FSH (−15%, P=0.001). Peaks in FSH and LH occurred later (∼0.5 day) in the cycle among women with greater central adiposity. Greater total and central adiposity were associated with changes in mean hormone levels. The greater amplitudes observed among obese women suggest compensatory mechanisms at work to maintain hormonal homeostasis. Central adiposity may be more important in influencing timing of hormonal peaks than total adiposity.
Shear-driven aggregation of SU-8 microrods in suspension

A non-Brownian suspension of micron scale rods exhibits reversible shear-driven formation of disordered aggregates resulting in dramatic viscosity enhancement at low shear rates. Aggregate formation is imaged using a combined rheometer and fluorescence microscope. The size and structure of these aggregates are found to be a function of shear rate and concentration, with larger aggregates present at lower shear rates and higher concentrations. Quantitative measurements of the early-stage aggregation process are modeled by collision driven growth of porous structures which suggest that the aggregate density increases with shear rate. This result is combined with a Krieger–Dougherty type constitutive relationship and steady-state viscosity measurements to estimate the intrinsic viscosity of complex structures developed under shear. These results represent a direct, quantitative, experimental demonstration of the association between aggregation and viscosity enhancement for a rod suspension, and demonstrate a way of inferring microscopic geometric properties of a dynamic system through the combination of quantitative imaging and rheology.
The Relevance of “Missing Heritability ” in Pharmacogenomics

Pharmacogenomic biomarkers can optimize an individual’s therapy; however, the overall role of genetic factors in drug response remains uncertain. The majority of genetic variants currently used as clinical pharmacogenomic biomarkers affect drug metabolism and transport, while fewer biomarkers accurately predict drug response (pharmacodynamics). This article evaluates heritable aspects of drug therapy, highlighting gene-gene-environment interactions, in light of recent human evolution. These concepts are critical to the development of new drug therapies and biomarkers tests.
High frequency, periodic disturbances in dissipative systems - I. Small amplitude, finite rate theory

A theory is developed describing finite amplitude, high frequency, periodic disturbances in dissipative systems. Although, for definiteness, the transmitting medium is taken to be a viscoelastic string, the results are applicable to nonlinear transmission lines and nonlinear dielectrics, as well as relaxing and reacting gas mixtures. Part I of the paper describes small amplitude but finite rate processes: part II will describe disturbances of unrestricted amplitude. It is shown that by interpreting high frequency waves as modulated simple waves with slowly changing Riemann invariants, the parameter expansion techniques of geometrical optics can be modified to include finite amplitude waves. The roles of the linear models of viscoelasticity and elasticity as well as that of nonlinear elasticity as approximations to the nonlinear viscoelastic model are elucidated.
Custom data-flow machines for speech recognition

The goal of the paper is to present some of the design characteristics and performance of a special purpose custom machine that has the potential of improving the speed of the implementation of a beam search algorithm by two orders of magnitude when compared with a general purpose architecture implementation. The paper also describes the architecture of a general purpose self-timed device that can be used in implementing such a machine.