cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of Cytochalasin B on Unstimulated and Adrenocorticotropin-Stimulated Adrenocortical Tumor Cells in Vitro*

We have employed cytochalasin B (CB) to investigate the possibility that the acute steroidogenic response of cultured adrenocortical tumor cells to ACTH may be mediated by microfilaments. The steroid production and ultrastructure of cultures incubated separately with ACTH and CB for 20 min to 2 h, or simultaneously with these agents, were recorded. At levels below 10 μ/ml, CB either stimulated a slight increase in basal steroid levels or had no effect on this output. Higher doses were progressively inhibitory. When CB and ACTH were added to cultures simultaneously, drug doses of 10–100 μg/ml produced progressively increasing inhibitions of the ACTH response. At 50–100 μg/ml CB, inhibition reached 80%. All inhibitions were reversible within 1–2 h after the removal of CB. Our electron microscopic studies indicate that although CB and ACTH caused a loss of stress fibers and produced cell rounding, the effects of each agent on microfilament-associated structures were unique. In ACTH-treated cells, there were ...
DIRECT IRON SMELTING REDUCTION PROCESSES

Direct iron smelting-reduction processes have been developed as an alternative to the blast furnace process for making molten, slag-free iron. The main incentive behind their development was to pro...
Synthesis of 1,2-dialkyl-4-pyrazolidinols

Condensation of 1,2-dialkylhydrazines with epichlorohydrin affords 1,2-dialkyl-4-pyrazolidinols in moderate yield.
Tissue Doppler Imaging Optical Flow (TDIOF): A Combined B-Mode and Tissue Doppler Approach for Cardiac Motion Estimation in Echocardiographic Images

The quantitative analysis of cardiac motion from echocardiographic images helps clinicians in the diagnosis and therapy of patients suffering from heart disease. Quantitative analysis is usually based on tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) or speckle tracking. These methods are based on two techniques which to a large degree are independent: the Doppler phenomenon and image sequence processing. Herein, to increase the accuracy of the speckle tracking technique and to cope with the angle dependence of TDI, a combined approach dubbed tissue Doppler imaging optical flow (TDIOF) is proposed. TDIOF is formulated based on the combination of B-mode and Doppler energy terms minimized using algebraic equations and is validated on simulated images, and in vivo data. It was observed that the additional Doppler term is able to increase the accuracy of speckle tracking, compared to two popular motion estimation and speckle tracking techniques (Horn-Schunck and block matching methods). This observation was more pronounced when noise was present. The magnitude and angular error for TDIOF applied to simulated images, when comparing estimated motion with ground-truth motion, were 15% and 9.2°/frame, respectively. As an additional validation, echocardiography-derived strains were compared to tagged MRI-derived myocardial strains in the same subjects. The correlation coefficient (r) between the TDIOF-derived radial strains and tagged MRI-derived radial strains value was 0.83 (P < 0.001). The correlation coefficient ( r) for the TDIOF-derived circumferential strains compared to the tagged MRI-derived circumferential strains was 0.86 (P < 0.001). The comparison of TDIOF-derived and block matching speckle tracking and Horn-Schunck optical flow strain values using student t-test demonstrated superiority of TDIOF (95% confidence interval, P < 0.001).
Women Build Long Bones With Less Cortical Mass Relative to Body Size and Bone Size Compared With Men

Background The twofold greater lifetime risk of fracturing a bone for white women compared with white men and black women has been attributed in part to differences in how the skeletal system accumulates bone mass during growth. On average, women build more slender long bones with less cortical area compared with men. Although slender bones are known to have a naturally lower cortical area compared with wider bones, it remains unclear whether the relatively lower cortical area of women is consistent with their increased slenderness or is reduced beyond that expected for the sex-specific differences in bone size and body size. Whether this sexual dimorphism is consistent with ethnic background and is recapitulated in the widely used mouse model also remains unclear.
Word Frequency and Reading Comprehensiony1

AbstractIt was hypothesized that by varying the frequency of 15 percent of the words in elementary school reading materials, gains in the comprehension of the meaning of entire passages could be produced. To test this hypothesis, 222 sixth graders were randomly assigned to two reading treatments, presented simultaneously in the same room, differing only in the frequency of 15 percent of the words used in the stories. Reading comprehension was significantly increased (p > .0001) with high frequency story passages. Results indicated that increases in the frequency of a small percentage of words enhanced story comprehension, while a few less familiar words inhibited comprehension of the total passage. The data suggest that, in the design of reading materials for use in elementary schools, sizable increases in reading comprehension can be produced by increased attention to the semantic variable of word frequency.
Acute biliary pancreatitis in a 9-year-old child treated with endoscopic sphincterotomy.

Abstract Acute biliary pancreatitis is a well recognized complication of gallstone disease in adults. Acute pancreatitis in childhood is usually caused by congenital anomalies of the pancreatico–biliary ducts, viral infections, drug toxicity or abdominal trauma. We report the case of a 9-year-old girl with acute biliary pancreatitis and cholangitis. On urgent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography a bulging papilla with impacted stone was seen. She was treated with endoscopic sphincterotomy without complications. The disease resolved rapidly and uneventfully after the endoscopic treatment.
On the form of the single coulostatic decay curve

A plot of ΔE/Δt 1/2 versusE as obtained from a single coulostatic decay curve resembles a classical voltammogram. Calculations by digital simulation show that for a reversible electrode reaction the coulostatic “voltammogram” is shifted to potentials slightly negative of the reversible half-wave potential. Analysis of published data for the reduction of aqueous Pb(II) at a mercury electrode shows that the results were affected by heterogeneous electron transfer kinetics.
Dual phosphorescence from 5-methylbicyclo[4.3.01,5]non-1-en3-one

Abstract Phosphorescence has been simultaneously observed from both a 3 π, π* and a 3 n,π* level of 5-methylbicyclo-[4.3.0 1,5 non-1-en-3-one. The emission from the higher energy 3 n,π* state, which is in thermal equilibrium with the 3 π,π* state, is quenched by lowering the temperature and also quenched by increasing the solvent polarity so as to raise the energy of the 3 n,π* state relative to the 3 π,π* state.
Loss characterization of high-index-contrast ridge waveguide oxide-confined InAlGaAs quantum well racetrack ring-resonator lasers

The use of the non-selective, O 2 -enhanced wet thermal oxidation of deep-etched sidewalls in GaAs-based heterostructures has enabled the fabrication of low-loss, high-index-contrast ridge waveguides suitable for ring resonator laser devices. In a self-aligned process, the grown native oxide simultaneously provides excellent electrical insulation, passivation of the etch-exposed bipolar active region, and smoothing of etch roughness. The resulting strong lateral optical confinement at the semiconductor/oxide interface has enabled half-racetrack ring resonator (R 3 ) lasers with bend radii r as small as 6 μm. In this work we have experimentally characterized the loss due to the mode mismatch at the straight to curved waveguide transition from analysis of efficiency data of half-R 3 lasers with multiple cavity lengths. Using an 808 nm InAlGaAs graded-index separate confinement heterostructure, the transition losses are extracted from an inverse efficiency 1/η d vs. length L plot for half-R 3 lasers with r=150, 100, 50, 25 and 10 μm and 3 different ridge widths, w. The round trip transition loss ranges from 11.5 to 37.0 dB (for w=7.3 μm), 6.7 to 27.0 dB (w=4.2 μm), and 1.8 to 16.2 dB (w=2.1 μm) with decreasing radii, showing a clear decrease with width and corresponding improved mode overlap in the transition region. Simulation results elucidate the role of mode mismatch vs. radiative bend loss in high-index-contrast racetrack ring resonator lasers. We demonstrate a full-ring laser having a tangential stripe output coupler guide fabricated via e-beam lithography and non-selective oxidation with a threshold current density of 719 A/cm 2 for an r=150 μm, w=6 μm ring.
Mass spectrometric proof of the existence of He+3 and He+4 ions

Abstract Studies of the ionic composition of helium plasmas at gas temperatures near 80°K, using mixtures of3He and4He, have confirmed the existence of He+3 and have also revealed the existence of He+4 at these temperatures.
Ganglioside Analysis by Thin-Layer Chromatography Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Orthogonal Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry

Metastable decomposition of ions generated in matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometers complicates analysis of biological samples that have labile bonds. Recently, several academic laboratories and manufacturers of commercial instruments have designed instruments that introduce a cooling gas into the ion source during the MALDI event and have shown that the resulting vibrational cooling stabilizes these labile bonds. In this study, we compared stabilization and detection of desorbed gangliosides on a commercial orthogonal time-of-flight (oTOF) instrument with results we reported previously that had been obtained on a home-built Fourier transform mass spectrometer. Decoupling of the desorption/ionization from the detection steps resulted in an opportunity for desorbing thin-layer chromatography (TLC)-separated gangliosides directly from a TLC plate without compromising mass spectral accuracy and resolution of the ganglioside analysis, thus coupling TLC and oTOF mass spectrometry. The application of a declustering potential allowed control of the matrix cluster and matrix adduct formation, and, thus, enhanced the detection of the gangliosides.
Improved solution for the vortical and acoustical mode coupling inside a two-dimensional cavity with porous walls.

This work presents an improved solution to a former study that analyzes the oscillatory motion of gases prescribed by vortico-acoustical mode coupling inside a two-dimensional porous cavity. The physical problem arises in the context of an oscillating gas inside a rectangular enclosure with wall transpiration, sublimation, or sweating. Previously, a multiple-scale solution was derived for the temporal field. The asymptotic formulation was based on an unconventional choice of scales. Its accuracy was also commensurate with the size of e, a parameter that captured the effect of small viscosity. Currently, an exact solution is derived and compared to the previous formulation. A simple WKBJ solution is also constructed for validation purposes. Unlike both asymptotic formulations, the exact solution remains accurate regardless of the range of physical parameters.
Normal repair of ultraviolet-induced DNA damage in a hypersensitive strain of fibroblasts from a patient with Gardner's syndrome

Gardner's syndrome is an autosomal dominant disorder that predisposes to cancer of the large intestine and to other tumors. We have previously demonstrated that fibroblasts from a patient with this disease are hypersensitive to the cytotoxic effects of ultraviolet light. In this report we have measured several parameters of the repair of ultraviolet light-induced DNA damage in an attempt to identify a defect responsible for the hypersensitivity. We have found the excision rate of pyrimidine dimers, the host cell reactivation of UV-irradiated herpes simplex virus, the induction and rejoining of DNA single strand breaks and the response of semi-conservative DNA replication to UV-irradiation to be in all cases indistinguishable from such phenomena in a variety of normal cells.
Interaction of human aldehyde dehydrogenase with aromatic substrates and ligands.

Abstract The substrate benzaldehyde (but not propionaldehyde) could elute aldehyde dehydrogenase from a p -hydroxyacetophenone-affinity column, and inhibit the esterase activity ( K i =47 μM), indicating that this simple aromatic aldehyde binds to the free enzyme and possibly in the substrate-binding site. Thus, the kinetic mechanism for aldehyde dehydrogenase might be dependent upon which aldehyde is used in the reaction. Chloramphenicol which also elutes the enzyme from the affinity column, shows a discriminatory effect by inhibiting the ALDH1 oxidation of benzaldehyde and activating that of propionaldehyde while showing no effect when assayed with hexanal or cyclohexane–carboxaldehyde. Chloramphenicol is an uncompetitive inhibitor against NAD when benzaldehyde is the substrate. We propose that this drug might interact with both the benzaldehyde and NAD binding sites.
Water desalination supply chain modeling and optimization: case of Saudi Arabia

A large number of new desalination plants are being contracted every year constituting huge strategic investments. Strategic decisions related to plant locations and capacity, the Selection of the desalination technology, and many other technical decisions related to the plant design and operation are very critical to maximize the economical and the social return on these investments. Viewing the desalination industry network as a supply chain provides a holistic view allowing decision makers to perform optimization of water desalination operations end to end. The proposed methodology provides a set of modular simulation components to allow the creation of complex models to optimize the entire water desalination supply chain quickly and easily. The optimization entails mathematical programming (MP) models that can be solved by external MP solvers. Saudi Arabia is the worldwide leader in the desalinated water capacity. A national water strategy is implemented by a number of governmental and privatized auth...
America's community colleges.

In the 2009 American graduation initiative, President Obama enthusiastically highlighted the importance of community colleges—publicly funded 2-year institutions—for meeting the projected growth in jobs requiring a college degree. Increasing the number of college graduates earning science- and math-related degrees depends on these institutions increasing workforce preparation through science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education. Community colleges are accessible, affordable, diverse, and flexible, and thus well positioned to meet this need. However, the current demand for courses far exceeds capacity,* thereby calling for more government, business, and local resources to support these institutions.
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon o-Quinones Inhibit the Activity of the Catalytic Fragment of Protein Kinase C†

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) require metabolic activation to exert their carcinogenic effects. PAH trans-dihydrodiol proximate carcinogens are oxidized by aldo−keto reductases (AKRs) to ...
Particle size and energetics of gouge from earthquake rupture zones

Grain size reduction and gouge formation are found to be ubiquitous in brittle faults at all scales, and most slip along mature faults is observed to have been localized within gouge zones. This fine-grain gouge is thought to control earthquake instability, and thus understanding its properties is central to an understanding of the earthquake process. Here we show that gouge from the San Andreas fault, California, with approximately 160 km slip, and the rupture zone of a recent earthquake in a South African mine with only approximately 0.4 m slip, display similar characteristics, in that ultrafine grains approach the nanometre scale, gouge surface areas approach 80 m2 g(-1), and grain size distribution is non-fractal. These observations challenge the common perception that gouge texture is fractal and that gouge surface energy is a negligible contributor to the earthquake energy budget. We propose that the observed fine-grain gouge is not related to quasi-static cumulative slip, but is instead formed by dynamic rock pulverization during the propagation of a single earthquake.
Genealogy of the 129 inbred strains: 129/SvJ is a contaminated inbred strain

The 129 mouse is the most widely used strain in gene targeting experiments. However, numerous substrains exist with demonstrable physiological differences. In this study a set of simple sequence length polymorphisms (SSLPs) was used to determine the relatedness of selected 129 substrains. 129/SvJ was significantly different from the other 129 substrains and is more accurately classified as a recombinant congenic strain (129cX/Sv), being derived from 129/Sv and an unknown strain. This mixed genetic background could complicate gene targeting experiments by reducing homologous recombination efficiency when constructs and ES cells are not derived from the same 129 substrain. Additionally, discrepancies due to different genetic backgrounds may arise when comparing phenotypes of genes targeted in different 129-derived ES cell lines.
Seasonal variation of sediment deposition in the Hudson River estuary

Abstract During and following the spring freshet, rapid rates of sediment deposition were observed in the Hudson River estuary. Side-scan sonar surveys and sediment coring studies revealed a large amount of spatial variability in sedimentation within the estuary and a distinct seasonal progression. During the freshet, sediment was deposited in the seaward reaches of the estuary. In the two-month period after the freshet, this sediment was eroded and sedimentation occurred 10–30 km further landward at the estuarine turbidity maximum (ETM) zone. The thickness of the new freshet deposit was as great as 40 cm in the ETM, indicating intense trapping and rapid deposition. The location of this depocenter corresponded to a frontal zone, where water column observations and modeling studies have indicated enhanced sediment trapping. The mass of the new deposits was estimated at 300 000 metric tons during both 1998 and 1999, with similar spatial distributions. In 1998 the estimated fluvial input was 560 000 metric tons, significantly greater than the 120 000 metric tons estimated for 1999. Thus, the mass of the observed deposits appear to be more influenced by the redistribution of sediment within the estuary due to seasonal variations in erosion–deposition conditions, rather than by the direct input of sediment from the watershed.
NMR relaxation study of the complex formed between CBP and the activation domain of the nuclear hormone receptor coactivator ACTR.

Overexpression of the p160 steroid receptor coactivator ACTR is associated with breast and ovarian cancers. Complex formation between ACTR and the general transcriptional coactivators CBP and p300 plays a key role in the nuclear receptor-dependent regulation of gene transcription and was the first reported example of mutual synergistic folding of two disordered polypeptide chains. In order to investigate the structure and dynamics of the free domains and complex, we measured and analyzed 15N longitudinal and transverse relaxation rates and [1H]−15N heteronuclear Overhauser effects of the backbone amides of the free and bound forms of human ACTR (residues 1041−1088) and mouse CBP (residues 2059−2117). Secondary chemical shifts for the free and bound forms were well correlated with the extent of backbone flexibility. The free ACTR domain has no residual secondary structure and shows all of the characteristics of a completely unfolded polypeptide chain. The free CBP domain retains most of the α-helical conte...
Soil carbon sequestration in China through agricultural intensification, and restoration of degraded and desertified ecosystems

The industrial emission of carbon (C) in China in 2000 was about 1 Pg yr−1, which may surpass that of the United States (1ċ84 Pg C) by 2020. China's large land area, similar in size to that of the United States, comprises 124 Mha of cropland, 400 Mha of grazing land and 134 Mha of forestland. Terrestrial C pool of China comprises about 35–60 Pg in the forest and 120–186 Pg in soils. Soil degradation is a major issue affecting 145 Mha by different degradative processes, of which 126 Mha are prone to accelerated soil erosion. Total annual loss by erosion is estimated at 5ċ5 Pg of soil and 15ċ9 Tg of soil organic carbon (SOC). Erosion-induced emission of C into the atmosphere may be 32–64 Tg yr−1. The SOC pool progressively declined from the 1930s to 1980s in soils of northern China and slightly increased in those of southern China because of change in land use. Management practices that lead to depletion of the SOC stock are cultivation of upland soils, negative nutrient balance in cropland, residue removal, and soil degradation by accelerated soil erosion and salinization and the like. Agricultural practices that enhance the SOC stock include conversion of upland to rice paddies, integrated nutrient management based on liberal use of biosolids and compost, crop rotations that return large quantities of biomass, and conservation-effective systems. Adoption of recommended management practices can increase SOC concentration in puddled soil, red soil, loess soils, and salt-affected soils. In addition, soil restoration has a potential to sequester SOC. Total potential of soil C sequestration in China is 105–198 Tg C yr−1 of SOC and 7–138 Tg C yr−1 for soil inorganic carbon (SIC). The accumulative potential of soil C sequestration of 11 Pg at an average rate of 224 Tg yr−1 may be realized by 2050. Soil C sequestration potential can offset about 20 per cent of the annual industrial emissions in China. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Finite sample evidence of IV estimators under weak instruments

SUMMARY We present finite sample evidence on different IV estimators available for linear models under weak instruments; explore the application of the bootstrap as a bias reduction technique to attenuate their finite sample bias; and employ three empirical applications to illustrate and provide insights into the relative performance of the estimators in practice. Our evidence indicates that the random-effects quasi-maximum likelihood estimator outperforms alternative estimators in terms of median point estimates and coverage rates, followed by the bootstrap bias-corrected version of LIML and LIML. However, our results also confirm the difficulty of obtaining reliable point estimates in models with weak identification and moderate-size samples. Copyright  2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Application of x rays to the analysis of DNA packaging in mammalian sperm

X-ray microscopy has been performed on unlabeled and gold labeled rat sperm nuclei using a tantalum x-ray laser (44.83 angstrom) and an x-ray zone plate lense. Transmission images of nuclei labeled with gold using an antibody to protamine 1 show large clusters of gold as well as individual 400 angstrom gold particles coating the surface of the chromatin. Images of the same nuclei obtained with a scanning x-ray microscope demonstrate that the initial exposure of the sperm nucleus to a photon intensity of 3.0 X 1014 W/cm2 for a duration of 500 ps did not destroy or grossly distort their structure. Other nuclei labeled with an antibody to protamine 2 were partially decondensed during the labeling process and contained large vacuole-like regions. Images were also obtained of unlabeled sperm nuclei. Data obtained from one unlabeled nucleus imaged with both the atomic force and x-ray laser microscopes was used to determine the thickness of the chromatin and estimate the amount of water that must be associated with the DNA-protamine complex in air-dried nuclei. These results suggest that even air-dried sperm nuclei are extensively hydrated and that tightly bound water may comprise as much as one-third of the volume of the dried sperm nucleus.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Validation of continuous radionuclide left ventricular functioning monitoring in detecting silent myocardial ischemia during balloon angioplasty of the left anterior descending coronary artery

Silent myocardial ischemia has been inferred from transient ST-segment depression during continuous electrocardiographic monitoring. Recently, continuous ambulatory monitoring of left ventricular (LV) function using a radionuclide technique (VEST) has demonstrated episodes of significant silent LV dysfunction in the absence of electrocardiographic changes. To validate the demonstration of silent LV dysfunction with this technique, 12 men were studied during percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. A total of 18 left anterior descending coronary artery balloon inflations were performed. Balloon inflations at 8 +/- 2 atm (4 to 10 atm) lasted 70 +/- 16 seconds. Seventeen of 18 inflations were associated with a decrease in LV ejection fraction greater than 0.10. Mean LV ejection fraction decreased from 0.53 +/- 0.08 to 0.28 +/- 0.11 (p less than 0.0001). In contrast, there was pain in only 10 inflations and ST-segment changes in 7. LV dysfunction was associated with a minimal increase in end-diastolic volume (4 +/- 3%, p less than 0.003), and a major increase in relative end-systolic volume (69 +/- 43%, p less than 0.001). These data suggest that continuous monitoring of LV function with the VEST can sensitively detect silent ischemic decreases in LV function occurring during angioplasty, and provide further validation of the use of this technique for detecting silent myocardial ischemia.
Management of Generalized Aggressive Periodontitis Using Periodontal and Orthodontic Treatments

Introduction: This case report presents the use of periodontal therapy sequentially with orthodontics for the treatment of generalized aggressive periodontitis (GAgP) and associated malocclusion.Case Presentation: A female patient presented with GAgP. Non-surgical periodontal treatment and enamel matrix derivative (EMD) therapy were completed while the patient was concurrently undergoing orthodontic treatment to correct Class II malocclusion. Probing depths, free gingival margin, and clinical attachment level (CAL) were evaluated at baseline, 4 weeks, 3 and 6 months, and 1 year after treatment. CAL was the primary outcome variable. A 1-year postoperative visit revealed that the patient’s periodontium had remained stable while still undergoing orthodontic treatment.Conclusions: Sequential periodontal and orthodontic treatments improved this patient’s overall function, occlusion, and esthetics. Regenerative therapy using EMD was effective in this case of GAgP, and results remained stable throughout and afte...
Branhamella catarrhalis colonization of exposed nylon sutures

A 63-year-old man who had uncomplicated cataract surgery four years previously complained of having redness, blurred vision, and photophobia in his right eye for one week. Examination revealed numerous exposed nylon sutures with peculiar leaf-like, white deposits surrounding them, associated with underlying conjunctival leukocytic infiltration. Smears of the adherent material showed gram-negative diplococci and cultures produced heavy growth of Branhamella catarrhalis. Removal of the offending sutures and fortified topical antibiotic therapy resolved the ocular inflammation. The unique form in which this infection presented is a reminder that ocular surgical patients deserve long-term follow-up for problems like exposed sutures.
Microcalorimetric investigation of the complexation between 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin and amine drugs with the diphenylmethyl functionality

Solution calorimetry has been employed to evaluate the stability constants and standard-enthalpy changes (delta H degrees) associated with complex formation between 2-hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HP-beta-CD) and a group of amine compounds having the diphenylmethyl functionality in aqueous solution at 298.15 K. Data from microcalorimetric titrations of the compounds were analysed using a nonlinear least-squares method. Of the 12 compounds studied, only terfenadine.HCl formed a 1:2 (compound:HP-beta-CD) complex. All the others formed 1:1 complexes. The standard free energy decrease accompanying the formation of inclusion complexes is generally due to a negative delta H degrees. This exothermic delta H degrees can be interpreted as indicating that the binding forces for complexation include both the hydrophobic effect and strong van der Waals interactions. When a halogen substituent is in the aromatic ring, stability constants are higher and standard-entropy changes (delta S degrees) become positive, suggesting greater hydrophobic interaction. Both adiphenine.HCl and proadifen.HCl form more stable complexes, suggesting that hydrogen bonding to the carbonyl oxygen by the hydroxyl-group on the rim of the CD ring could be an important contributor to the complexation. Substitution on the aliphatic carbon of the diphenylmethyl group was also found to be important in determining the ability of compounds to bind with HP-beta-CD. The independence of the thermodynamic constants on the degree of protonation in the case of bifunctional amines indicates that the amine functional groups do not penetrate into the HP-beta-CD cavity.
Time scale for emission of intermediate-mass fragments in 36Ar+197Au collisions at E/A=35 MeV.

Two-fragment (Be-Be, B-B, and C-C) correlation functions were measured at small relative momenta for noncompound fragment emission in $^{36}\mathrm{Ar}$${+}^{197}$Au collisions at E/A=35 MeV. Interpretation of the experimental correlation functions in terms of final-state Coulomb-interaction models indicate average fragment-emission times of about 100--200 fm/c.
Acute Otitis Media in Children Comments on Etiology and Treatment

IT has generally been assumed that viruses are involved in the pathogenesis of otitis media either as primary agents or as antecedents of bacterial infections, but neither of these possibilities has been well documented. This report presents the results of attempts to isolate viruses and mycoplasmas from middle-ear fluids obtained by needle aspiration in 90 children with acute otitis media, and results of serologic studies using 18 viral antigens and a Mycoplasma pneumoniae antigen in 73 of these children. The results of bacteriologic studies of the middle-ear fluids, throat and nasopharynx and a discussion of the clinical findings have been . . .
Em/Ek/S queuing systems with state-dependent arrivals

Abstract This paper presents a solution to a class of queuing system problems that are a generalization of the type E m / E k / S . The queuing system has s servers. The service time for each customer has a gamma distribution with parameters k and μ, where the expected value of the service time is k / μ . Customer interarrival times have gamma distributions with parameters m and m / λ n , where n is the number of customers in the system and the expected value of the interarrival time is m / λ n . The methodology advances an effective approach to solving these problems which has received little attention in the literature—possibly because the direction of earlier research was largely established before recent advances in computer software and hardware enabled the approach used herein to be effectively pursued. A computer implementation of the methodology described in this paper allows one to quickly—in seconds or minutes of PC time—obtain exact results from a microcomputer to a wider range of queuing problems than has hitherto been possible.
Clinical relevance of pharmacogenetic variations for geriatric psychopharmacology

Neurolepticsare frequently used to treat behavioralproblems inpatients with dementia. Yet, the elderly are particularly prone to neuroleptic side effects and adverse drug reactions. This paper examines the relationship between variable neuroleptic drug metabolism by cytochrome P450 2d6 and acute side effects in older patients. A noninvasive test of cytochrome P450 2d6 function was prospectively given to patients treated with fixed doses of perphenazine. Thk approach may help to reduce adverse drug reactions which increase exponentially with age,
Methanol toxicity secondary to inhalant abuse in adult men.

Background. The purpose of this report is to evaluate the presentation, treatment, and outcomes of adults with methanol toxicity from inhalation of carburetor cleaning fluid fumes. Methods. Retrosp...
Focus of signet ring cell carcinoma in an adenoma of the sigmoid colon

A case of a pedunculated adenomatous polyp of the sigmoid colon was found to have a primary focus of signet ring cell carcinoma. Histologic examination of the medium-sized polyp was consistent with an adenoma to carcinoma sequence for signet ring cell carcinoma of the colon, similar to that for the common adenocarcinomas.
The Neuro-Ophthalmology of Mitochondrial Disease

Mitochondrial diseases frequently manifest neuro-ophthalmologic symptoms and signs. Because of the predilection of mitochondrial disorders to involve the optic nerves, extraocular muscles, retina, and even the retrochiasmal visual pathways, the ophthalmologist is often the first physician to be consulted. Disorders caused by mitochondrial dysfunction can result from abnormalities in either the mitochondrial DNA or in nuclear genes which encode mitochondrial proteins. Inheritance of these mutations will follow patterns specific to their somatic or mitochondrial genetics. Genotype-phenotype correlations are inconstant, and considerable overlap may occur among these syndromes. The diagnostic approach to the patient with suspected mitochondrial disease entails a detailed personal and family history, careful ophthalmic, neurologic, and systemic examination, directed investigations, and attention to potentially life-threatening sequelae. Although curative treatments for mitochondrial disorders are currently lacking, exciting research advances are being made, particularly in the area of gene therapy. Leber hereditary optic neuropathy, with its window of opportunity for timely intervention and its accessibility to directed therapy, offers a unique model to study future therapeutic interventions. Most patients and their relatives benefit from informed genetic counseling.
Effect of very delayed repair of congenital diaphragmatic hernia on survival and extracorporeal life support use

Background. Since November 1992, operative repair in neonates with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) at this institution was delayed until respiratory insufficiency had resolved. Methods. A retrospective analysis was performed (n=33) comparing delayed repair with our previously reported institutional experience with immediate repair from January 1988 to October 1992 (n=66). Infants with severe genetic defects or moribund conditions or who were premature were not considered candidates for repair or extracorporeal life support (ECLS), but they were included in the survival analysis. Survival was defined as hospital discharge. Data were compared with an independent t test or Pearson chi-squared test. Results. Mean age at repair was 8.9±4.5 days (range, 3 to 20 days). Eleven infants in the study group were placed on ECLS (33% versus 68% in the comparison group; p=0.001). Six of these infants survived (55% versus 58% in the comparison group; p=0.846). Of these survivors, one patient was repaired while on ECLS, and the remainder underwent repair after decannulation from ECLS. All 20 of the remaining candidates for repair survived without need for ECLS. Overall survival was 79% versus 56% in the comparison group (p=0.027). Conclusions. Our current data suggest that very delayed repair of newborns with CDHs is associated with an increase in the overall survival and a decrease in the use of ECLS when compared with previous experience at this institution.
Relationships Between Charolais Sire Expected Progeny Differences and Progeny Performance in Commercial Beef Herds1

Data on Charolais-sired calves in 31 commercial herds were analyzed to evaluate progeny performance relative to sire expected progeny differences (EPD). The traits analyzed were BW at birth (BBW; n = 3554) and at weaning (WBW; n = 3604) of crossbred progeny from nationally evaluated sires. Sire BBW EPD and WBW EPD were evaluated as predictors of performance in these commercial herds. Published sire BBW EPD and WBW EPD were averaged and weighted on the numeric accuracy published for each EPD. The average weighted sire BBW EPD was 0.4 kg, and the WBW EPD was 7.0 kg with an average accuracy of 0.79 and 0.75, respectively. Random regression coefficients were estimated for progeny BBW on sire EPD of 1.03 ± 0.09 kg/kg of BBW EPD, and for progeny WBW, 0.66 ± 0.11 kg/kg of WBW EPD. Correlations for sire effect solutions in commercial herds with published sire BBW and WBW EPD were 0.59 and 0.39, respectively. Sire BBW EPD and WBW EPD were favorably related to actual progeny performance. Therefore, selection based on sire EPD should result in change of crossbred progeny performance. This further validates use of EPD as a selection tool for BBW and WBW in commercial herds. However, WBW response was less than expected, possibly a result of management practices in commercial herds compared with seedstock herds.
P3 Waves to the Discrimination of Targets in Homogeneous and Heterogeneous Stimulus Sequences

Event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded from subjects who discriminated infrequent target slides (particular letters or numbers) within a sequence of non-target letters. In the first experiment, subjects counted occurrences of a fixed target letter that were randomly intermixed within either a homogeneous sequence of As (deviating condition) or a heterogeneous sequence of all the letters of the alphabet (non-deviating condition). The P3 components (300-600 msec) of the ERPs to the deviating and non-deviating targets were virtually identical in amplitude, waveshape, latency and scalp distribution. Thus, the deviation of a target from an on-going sequence is not a prerequisite for the elicitation of high-amplitude P3 waves. A significant correlation of RT with P3 latency was found across-subjects, but not within-subjects. In a second experiment, subjects were presented with randomized sequences consisting of 80%As, 10%Bs, and 10% of either letters (between C and Z) or numbers (between 0 and 23). Although the a priori probability of Bs was about 20 times greater than any one of the letter or number slides, the averaged P3 waves to each of these types of targets did not differ from one another in amplitude, waveshape or scalp distribution. Apparently, the P3 wave is determined more by the probability of a stimulus class and the associated psychological operation than to the a priori probability of an individual stimulus.
Rural Responses to Political Unrest in Oaxaca City, Mexico: Preliminary Findings ∗

Strikes violence and economic crisis characterized life in Oaxaca City Oaxaca Mexico from the spring through late fall of 2006. Demonstrations began around the efforts of striking teachers and grew throughout the summer to include many groups critical of the states governor. The confrontations led to blockades violence and several acts of murder along with the cancellation of important events that had negative implications for the citys tourism economy. Nevertheless little has been said about the rural response to these events. In this paper I present preliminary results interviews in three rural villages to better understand the impacts of political and economic unrest on rural communities. (authors)
Cellular interactions of farnesol, a quorum-sensing molecule produced by Candida albicans.

Farnesol is a quorum-sensing molecule produced by Candida albicans that has many effects, including filament inhibition of this polymorphic fungus. In the past 9 years, the effect of farnesol on C. albicans has been reported in nearly 160 publications, with early work examining its influence on morphology. This article presents an update on the literature published since 2006, focusing on points that still need to be resolved as well as identifying possible artifacts that might interfere with this goal. In addition, the regulation of C. albicans farnesol production, C. albicans’ resistance/sensitivity to farnesol and the influence of farnesol on other species as well as the host are discussed. It is intriguing that we still do not know precisely how farnesol works, but interference with the Ras1–cAMP pathway is part of the story.
Solid state organic (pheromone-beeswax) far infrared maser.

A low energy solid state organic maser was constructed from beeswax doped with 100 microg of cabbage looper, Trichoplusia ni (Hubner), pheromone (sex scent). Maserlike wavelengths were emitted in the 17-microm region. The wavelength fits the 1-2-wavelengths criterion for open dielectric waveguides of the same range as the type 1 (30-57-microm) cabbage looper sensilla trichodea. The wavelength shifted from 16.81 microm to 17.39 microm over a half-hour time period. The log periodic shift of wavelengths is temperature dependent and not concentration dependent, since the concentration of pheromone is fixed within the beeswax.
Evolutionary innovations of squamate reproductive and developmental biology in the family Chamaeleonidae

The availability of molecular phylogenies has greatly accelerated our understanding of evolutionary innovations in the context of their origin and rate of evolution. Here, we assess the evolution of reproductive mode, developmental rate and body size in a group of squamate reptiles: the chameleons. Oviparity is ancestral and viviparity has evolved at least twice: Bradypodion and members of the Trioceros bitaeniatus clade are viviparous. Viviparous species are medium-sized as a result of convergence from either small-sized ancestors or large-sized ancestors, respectively, but do not differ from oviparous species in clutch size, hatchling size or the trade-off between clutch and hatchling size. Basal chameleons (Brookesia, Rhampholeon and Rieppeleon) are small-sized and have developmental rates comparable with those of other lizards. Derived chameleons (Calumma, Chamaeleo, Trioceros and Furcifer) are mostly large-sized and all have relatively slow developmental rates. Several clades of derived chameleons also exhibit developmental arrest (embryonic diapause or embryonic diapause plus cold torpor) and incubation periods extend to 6-10 months or more. Developmental arrest is associated with dry, highly seasonal climates in which the period favourable for oviposition and hatching is short. Long incubation periods thus ensure that hatching occurs during the favourable season following egg laying.
Best linear unbiased state estimation with noisy and noise-free measurements

Numerous state estimation problems (e.g., under linear or nonlinear equality constraints, with correlated or singular measurement noise) can be formulated as the problem with noisy and noise-free measurements. Under the assumption that the initial state and the noise are jointly Gaussian distributed and the coefficient matrix for linear equality constraint has full row rank, some optimal state estimation algorithms were obtained in the literature. Given only the first two moments and without any assumption on the rank of the measurement matrix for noise-free measurement, optimal batch and two sequential forms of the state estimation algorithms in the sense of best linear unbiased estimation (BLUE) are obtained in this paper. Extension to nonlinear measurements is also discussed.
A Statutory Comparative Analysis of Dividend Taxation Laws in Vietnam and Australia: Restructuring Regulatory Regimes to Attract Capital Investment

For many companies, shareholders are arguably the most importantstakeholders. By providing firms with capital via the purchase of shares, investorsexpect a profitable distribution of earnings, most commonly in the form ofdividends. Jurisdictions in different nations, such as Vietnam and Australia (theobjects of this statutory comparative analysis), have adopted various approachesregarding the taxation of company earnings and dividends, which may haveconsiderable economic and social implications. This paper conducts a rigorousanalysis which examines both the Australian and Vietnamese taxation rules ondividends, as well as evaluating whether the law in one country is preferable tothe other. The qualitative methodology employed was statutory case oriented evaluation which scrutinizes the operation of specific statutory policies, how those policies function comparatively, and the concomitant outcomes each respectivepolicy produces. The comparative case analysis demonstrates that Vietnam, as adeveloping economic force in Southeast Asia, can increase the allure of capitalinvestment by adopting dividend taxation laws more favorable to investors. Keywords - Taxation, Corporations Law, Dividends, Capital Investment, EconomicTheory, Foreign Trade, Economic Growth, Stimulus, Income Tax, DescriptiveResearch, Australia, Vietnam
The Political Economy of International Trade Law: The TRIPS-legality of measures taken to address public health crises: Responding to USTR–State–industry positions that undermine the WTO

The main WTO law-related focus of this essay is the treatment of compulsory licensing and parallel trade under the TRIPS Agreement, with emphasis on the AIDS crisis confronting Africa, Asia, and other parts of the world. There are two principal reasons for addressing this subject matter in some detail. First, and paramount, is the exigency of the present situation. Africa in particular, and developing countries in general, are facing a public health crisis of catastrophic proportions, and there is an urgency to assuring that the WTO acts to aid in addressing this crisis, and does not take steps to hinder governments as they seek to address it. Second, the conduct of the United States government and the pharmaceutical industry threatens the very fabric of the WTO - an institution that was formed to promote economic growth and peaceful trade relations following the Second World War. While the essential reasons for the WTO are today often obscured by rhetoric concerning its impact on non-trade concerns, the fact that the WTO provides the foundation for peaceful relations in world trade should not be overlooked. By acting irresponsibly, the US government undermines the WTO by providing ammunition to its critics. An institution designed to do good is portrayed as doing bad.The decision by the United States government to use its economic power as a weapon against developing countries fighting a battle against a deadly plague would plausibly lead developing country government officials and common citizens to question the economic, social, and political foundations of the TRIPS Agreement. Would any developing country government deliberately negotiate away its discretion to take measures to redress a health crisis of the most severe magnitude? Indeed, would any government or any group of citizens deliberately enter into a legal agreement condemning itself to early death?
Transport Numbers in Molten Salts

An overview of the fundamental properties and methods used for the determination of transport numbers in molten salts is presented with special emphasis on the room temperature haloaluminate ionic liquids, aluminum chloride-l-methyl-3-ethylimidazolium chloride and aluminum bromide-l-methyl-3-ethylimidazolium bromide.