cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Investigation of the component reactions of sterol demethylation: Preparation and properties of yeast demethylase activity

Abstract Two methods are described for the preparation of yeast microsomes that contain sterol demethylase activity. When the microsomes are treated with dithiothreitol, the microsomal pellets may be frozen and stored without loss of sterol demethylase activity. Lanosterol- 14 C (4,4,14α-trimethyl-5α-cholesta-8,24-dien-3β-ol) demethylation yields stoichiometric amounts of 14 CO 2 and demethylated C 27 -sterol. Most of the properties of the yeast demethylase resemble the microsomal demethylases of liver, skin, and testis. Glutathione, NAD + , and a neutral pH are required. The values for K m for lanosterol and K i ′ for inhibition by 4-methyl sterols and progesterone are similar to values obtained with mammalian microsomes. In sharp contrast to the mammalian system, Δ 7 -sterols are not demethylated by the yeast system. Yeast, but not liver, is stimulated markedly by Mg ++ . S -Adenosylmethionine fully substitutes for Mg ++ . It is suggested that sidechain methylation by S -adenosylmethionine may accompany or precede complete demethylation of lanosterol.
Two lipoxygenase isoenzymes and an activator in wheat germ

Abstract Two isoenzymes of lipoxygenase have been separated and purified from wheat germ. One isoenzyme was stable under both acid and basic conditions. The other isoenzyme was unstable in alkaline solutions and appeared to separate into two electrophoretically distinct active forms. The reaction rate of the isoenzymes towards linoleic acid appeared to be influenced differently as substrate concentrations were increased. A protein fraction extracted from wheat germ activated wheat and soybean lipoxygenase. The effect of the activator may have been to alter the structure of the substrate to enhance reaction rate.
Physiological activity of water beetle defensive agents. II. Absorption of selected anesthetic steroids and norsesquiterpenes across gill membranes of the minnow Pimephales promelas Raf.

The uptake of selected steroids and norsesquiterpenes by live minnows,Pimephales promelas, was studied when the compounds were administered externally in aqueous solution. The gills of minnows absorbed 80% of the steroid removed from solution. Steroid absorption across minnow gills is apparently a nonmediated process as rate saturation could not be demonstrated. Initial absorption rates of test compounds were inversely correlated with (1) the degree of oxygenation, (2) water solubility, and (3) polarity on silica gel thin-layer chromatography. These findings support the Stein model of non-mediated transport. The majority of compounds anesthetic and toxic to minnows exerted their effects at a similar internal concentration. Anesthesia occurred at ca. 10−6–10−5 M and death at 10−4–10−3 M. Since various agents causing membrane stabilization and lysis in in vitro systems act in an identical concentration range, it is proposed that the defensive steroids and norsesquiterpenes of water beetles act via membrane stabilization and lysis.
Importance of Coronary Artery Anomalies in Operations for Congenital Heart Disease

A congenital coronary artery anomaly influenced operative management of 21 children (34 operations) during a recent 8-year interval. This group represented 1.3% of cardiothoracic operations performed. Survivors included 5 of 10 children having correction of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery and 11 children having correction of intracardiac defects associated with major coronary arteries crossing the right ventricular outflow tract. Two children survived primary repair of injured major coronary arteries. Isolated coronary artery anatomy must be considered during management of intracardiac defects. Intraoperative injury to a major coronary artery requires meticulous repair.
Data base of field incidents used to establish HDPE geomembrane stress crack resistance specifications

Abstract Geomembranes made from high-density polyethylene (HDPE) have a relatively high percent crystallinity, and are therefore of concern with regard to stress cracking. The stress crack resistance (SCR) of HDPE geomembranes must be properly evaluated and specified accordingly. A research project was initiated in 1990 to investigate the stress cracking behavior of HDPE geomembranes in the field. A total of 16 field sites were located, in which HDPE geomembranes showed some degree of stress cracking. The SCR of retrieved field samples was evaluated by both the bent strip and notched constant tensile load (NCTL) tests. The test data indicates that the bent strip test could not adequately predict the stress cracking field performance of HDPE geomembranes. In contrast, the NCTL test could distinguish the SCR of the retrieved field geomembranes. Based on the NCTL test data obtained from the field geomembranes, a 100 hour transition time is recommended to be the minimum value for an acceptable HDPE geomembrane specification. In addition, a single point notched constant tensile load (SP-NCTL) test was also established for quality control and quality assurance purposes. The recommendation for the SP-NCTL test is set at 200 hours failure time under an applied load of 30% room temperature yield stress.
Identification of conserved regions in the plastid genome: implications for DNA barcoding and biological function

All oligonucleotides of the sugarcane chloroplast genome that are conserved in one or more of 36 other completed plastid genomes have been identified by computer-assisted sequence comparison. These...
Characterization of amygdalin-degrading Lactobacillus species.

Aims Cyanogenic glycosides are phytotoxic secondary metabolites produced by some crop plants. The aim of this study was to identify lactic acid bacteria (LAB) capable of catabolizing amygdalin, a model cyanogenic glycoside, for use in the biodetoxification of amygdalin-containing foods and feeds. Methods and Results Amygdalin-catabolizing lactobacilli were characterized using a combination of cultivation-dependent and molecular assays. Lactobacillus paraplantarum and Lactobacillus plantarum grew robustly on amygdalin (Amg+), while other LAB species typically failed to catabolize amygdalin (Amg−). Interestingly, high concentrations of amygdalin and two of its metabolic derivatives (mandelonitrile and benzaldehyde) inhibited the growth of Lact. plantarum RENO 0093. The differential regulation of genes tentatively involved in cyanohydrin metabolism illustrated that the metabolism of amygdalin- and glucose-grown cultures also differed significantly. Conclusions Amygdalin fermentation was a relatively uncommon phenotype among the LAB and generally limited to strains from the Lact. plantarum group. Phenotype microarrays (PM) enabled strain-level discrimination between closely related strains within a species and suggested that phenotypic differences might affect niche specialization. Significance and Impact of the Study Amygdalin-degrading lactobacilli with practical application in the biodetoxification of amygdalin were characterized. These strains show potential for use as starter cultures to improve the safety of foods and feeds.
Optimum design of antennas using metamaterials with the efficient global optimization (EGO) algorithm

EGO is an evolutionary, data-adaptive algorithm which can be useful for optimization problems with expensive cost functions. Many antenna design problems qualify since complex computational electromagnetics (CEM) simulations can take significant resources. This makes evolutionary algorithms such as genetic algorithms (GA) or particle swarm optimization (PSO) problematic since iterations of large populations are required. In this paper we discuss multiparameter optimization of a wideband, single-element antenna over a metamaterial ground plane and the interfacing of EGO (optimization) with a full-wave CEM simulation (cost function evaluation).
Production by Hexagenia limbata in a warm-water reservoir and its association with chlorophyll content of the water column

We investigated the productivity of nymphs of the mayfly Hexagenia limbata in Lake Waco, a central Texas reservoir, and assessed its association with chlorophyll content of the water. We hypothesized that food availability measured as chlorophyll content of the water may directly associate with growth of Hexagenia and predict population productivity. To test this, we compared production by mayfly populations at two stations in the same reservoir; a northern station receiving water input with high chlorophyll content, and a southern station receiving water with low chlorophyll content. Both stations had similar substrate type and abundant mayflies. Benthic samples were collected from October 1984 through September 1985, and dissolved oxygen and temperature of the water were monitored.
The Commodity Approach in Marketing Research: Is It Really Obsolete?:

The purpose of this paper is to examine a paradox in the marketing literature. This paradox concerns the commodity approach to marketing research. On the one hand, the commodity approach is perceived as obsolete. Few marketing journals or textbooks refer to it as a marketing research method. On the other hand, commodity based papers are still prominent in the marketing literature. Industrial products and the marketing of services are still the focus of a substantial amount of research. In order to empirically investigate the actual status of the commodity approach in scholarly marketing research, this paper presents a content analysis of articles appearing in theJournal of Marketing (1936–1989) and theAMA Proceedings (1957–1989). The goal of the content analysis is to measure how the adoption rate of the commodity approach has evolved over the past 54 years. Is the commodity approach as obsolete as it is perceived to be? Results show that (1) the adoption rate of the commodity approach is cyclical, (2) different commodities are studied more frequently in each of these cycles, and (3) current papers are more theoretical and less descriptive than earlier papers adopting the commodity approach. *** DIRECT SUPPORT *** A00BV057 00010
Modulation of airway responses by prostaglandins in young and fully grown rabbits.

Maturational changes have been noted in neurally mediated contractile and relaxant responses in airways from New Zealand White rabbits. In this study, we focused on prostaglandins with bronchoprote...
Nd:YAG laser posterior synechiolysis expands the spectrum of Nd:YAG laser – A case report

Abstract Since its initial description in 1964, numerous clinical applications of Neodymium:yttrium-aluminium-garnet (Nd:YAG) laser have evolved. The most common applications in ophthalmology include correction of posterior capsular opacification by capsulotomy and treatment of angle closure glaucoma by peripheral iridotomy. We present the case of a 62-year-old pseudophakic male with symptoms of glare and decreased vision in his right eye whose ocular examination revealed four focal areas of posterior synechiae. Synechiae were refractory to subsequent mydriatic therapy, and Nd:YAG laser was successfully used to achieve posterior synechiolysis. This case demonstrates the efficacy, speed, and non-invasive nature of Nd:YAG laser synechiolysis in pseudophakic patients.
Multicultural Perceptions of 1st-Year Elementary Teachers’ Urban, Suburban, and Rural Student Teaching Placements

This study was designed to determine the effects student teaching in four settings (urban Comer, urban non-Comer, suburban, and rural) had on 1st-year teachers’ (a) perceptions of success in genera...
Influence of Viscous and Buoyancy Forces on the Mobilization of Residual Tetrachloroethylene during Surfactant Flushing

The potential for nonaqueous phase liquid (NAPL) mobilization is one of the most important considerations in the development and implementation of surfactant-based remediation technologies. Column experiments were performed to investigate the onset and extent of tetrachloroethylene (PCE) mobilization during surfactant flushing. To induce mobilization, the interfacial tension between residual PCE and the aqueous phase was reduced from 47.8 to 0.09 dyn/cm by flushing with different surfactant solutions. The resulting PCE desaturation curves are expressed in terms of a total trapping number (NT), which relates viscous and buoyancy forces to the capillary forces acting to retain organic liquids within a porous medium. The critical value of NT required to initiate PCE mobilization fell within the range of 2 × 10-5 to 5 × 10-5, while complete displacement of PCE was observed as NT approached 1 × 10-3. The interplay of viscous and buoyancy forces during PCE mobilization is illustrated in horizontal column experi...
Modeling Liver-Related Adverse Effects of Drugs Using kNearest Neighbor Quantitative Structure−Activity Relationship Method

Adverse effects of drugs (AEDs) continue to be a major cause of drug withdrawals in both development and postmarketing. While liver-related AEDs are a major concern for drug safety, there are few in silico models for predicting human liver toxicity for drug candidates. We have applied the quantitative structure−activity relationship (QSAR) approach to model liver AEDs. In this study, we aimed to construct a QSAR model capable of binary classification (active vs inactive) of drugs for liver AEDs based on chemical structure. To build QSAR models, we have employed an FDA spontaneous reporting database of human liver AEDs (elevations in activity of serum liver enzymes), which contains data on approximately 500 approved drugs. Approximately 200 compounds with wide clinical data coverage, structural similarity, and balanced (40/60) active/inactive ratios were selected for modeling and divided into multiple training/test and external validation sets. QSAR models were developed using the k nearest neighbor method...
Formation of Nδ-Cyanoornithine from NG-Hydroxy-l-arginine and Hydrogen Peroxide by Neuronal Nitric Oxide Synthase: Implications for Mechanism†

Neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) catalyzes the oxidation of NG-hydroxy-l-arginine (NHA) by hydrogen peroxide. The amino acid products were characterized by high-performance liquid chromatograp...
Insect sterilant experiments in outdoor cages with apholate, metepa, and four bifunctional aziridine chemicals against the house fly.

Large outdoor cage tests were conducted in 1963 and 1964 with apholate, metepa, and 4 bifunctional aziridine chemicals against the house fly, Musca domestica L. These tests evaluated the effectiveness of 5 apholate formulations and granular sugar baits of the 6 chemicals under variable environmental conditions and moderately high house fly populations. The performance of apholate formulations ranked in this order: liquid and granular baits were most effective; ribbon treatments were slightly better than string; and residual treatments on plywood were least effective. The greater effectiveness of baits was associated with good attractancy and more rapid availability of the sterilant. The use of a humectant, like glycerin, on strings and baits improved performance. High sterility was obtained with each of the 6 chemicals as granular sugar baits. The performance of baits was affected, however, by method of placement, fly age, and envhonmental conditions. A broadcast method of exposure was most effective, but resulted in a more rapid loss of the sterilant. Metepa and a bis aziridine diphosphaspiro dioxide compound, which were ⅓ as effective as apholate in the laboratory, gave promising results at field concentrations.
Predictors of restenosis after implantation of 2.5 mm stents in small coronary arteries.

Background The results of stent implantation for small coronary disease have been inconclusive. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the factors in predicting the risk of angiographic restenosis after 2.5-mm stent implantation for small coronary arteries. Methods and Results The study group comprised 134 consecutive patients who had a reference small coronary artery with diameter from 1.8 mm to 2.5 mm on quantitative coronary angiography and who had been successfully treated by stent implantation with a 2.5-mm stent. Of the 134 patients, 55 had angiographic restenosis (41%). The rate of target lesion revascularization was 32%. Diabetes mellitus, acute coronary syndrome, lesion length, bifurcation lesion, lower left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), stent strut, stent/artery ratio, and stent length were identified as predictors of restenosis by univariate analysis. Subsequent multivariate analysis revealed that lower LVEF (odds ratio (OR) 3.37, p=0.01), bifurcation lesion (OR 2.47, p=0.04), thicker stent strut (OR 2.30, p=0.04), and longer stent length (OR 1.05, p=0.02) were significant predictors of restenosis. Conclusions Two pre-interventional factors (reduced left ventricular function and bifurcated lesion) and 2 procedure-related factors (thickness of stent strut and total stent length) were identified as predictors of restenosis. These factors should be taken into account when deciding on the percutaneous coronary intervention strategy for small coronary artery disease. (Circ J 2004; 68: 236 - 240)
Association of Sebaceous Gland Tumors and Internal Malignancy: The Muir-Torre Syndrome

The Muir-Torre syndrome (MTS) is an autosomal dominant genodermatosis characterized by: (1) at least a single sebaceous gland tumor (either an adenoma, an epithelioma, or a carcinoma) and (2) a minimum of one internal malignancy. To date, 120 patients with MTS have been reported. The most commonly associated neoplasms were colorectal (51%) and genitourinary (25%). Unlike colorectal neoplasms in the general population, the majority (58%) of these tumors in MTS patients occurred proximal to or at the splenic flexure. Nearly half of the MTS patients had more than one primary malignancy. Cutaneous lesions occurred before or concurrent with the diagnosis of the initial cancer in 41% of these patients. The median age for the appearance of the skin lesions was 53 years (range, 23 to 89 years); the median age for the detection of the initial visceral neoplasm was 50 years (range, 23 to 81 years). The cancers appear to have an indolent course in many of the MTS patients; the median survival has not been reached and the median follow-up is 10+ years. Patients with an MTS-associated cutaneous lesion should have a complete evaluation for gastrointestinal or genitourinary cancers. Although the penetrance of this disease is variable, its autosomal dominant inheritance suggests that relatives should be examined for sebaceous gland tumors and internal malignancy.
Design, Manufacture, and Testing of the Easycuff™ Pressure Measuring Syringe

A pressure measuring syringe, known as the EasyCuff™, has been designed and manufactured to provide physicians with a tool to accurately measure the pressure inside the distal cuff of endotracheal tube tubes (ETTs). The syringe, identical in size to a standard 10 cc syringe, has four components: a seal, a plunger, a barrel, and a silicone-rubber bellows (the pressure measuring component). A finite-element model of the bellows was created using ADINA™; silicone rubber bellows were then produced and shown to correlate linearly with the model to within ±5% up to a load equivalent to an internal pressure of 200 cm H2 O. 20 of these bellows were then assembled into EasyCuff™ syringes and tested to assess their accuracy and repeatability. The experimental setup used a currently-available manometer, which the EasyCuff™ is designed to replace, as a reference tool. The data show that the relationship between measured pressure and bellows deflection is linear, with a correlation factor of R2 = 0.99; additionally, environmental testing showed that the EasyCuff™ is unaffected by temperature cycling between −15 °F and +170 °F.
Deep ultraviolet (DUV) light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to maintain freshness and phytochemical composition during postharvest storage

Low-irradiance, long-term UV treatment using DUV-LEDs extended the cold storage shelf life of strawberries up to 2-fold as based on weight, moisture content, anthocyanin concentration, soluble solids, titratable acidity, visible damage, and mold growth.
A Method to Assist Students with Effective Study Habits and Test-Taking Strategies

Using examinations and test results to help students identify cognitive deficiencies as well as inefficient and ineffective study habits and test-taking practices is an effective way to enhance learning. While these approaches are well documented in the general education literature, they have not been well described in medical education. In this descriptive report, we describe a method in which students review their performance on multiple choice examinations with an eye toward identifying specific reasons for selecting an incorrect answer. We provide a worksheet for student use in documenting errors and identifying which among several types of errors were likely made. We offer brief explanations for why particular types of errors are made together with recommendations for remediating those problems. We believe that helping students identify habits of learning approaches used in test preparation that may contribute to an unsatisfactory performance on multiple choice exams represents an important and valuable step toward effective learning and successful exam performance.
Riboflavin Distribution and Elimination in two Functionally Anephric Human Patients

Abstract Pharmacokinetic studies in normal human subjects have suggested that probenecid modifies appreciably the distribution in the body of riboflavin and certain drugs.To exclude the effects of probenecid on renal excretion, the distribution and elimination of riboflavin with and without probenecid were studied in two functionally anephric patients during hemodialysis.A pharmacokinetic analysis of the time course of plasma levels of the vitamin, based on a two‐compartment open model, indicates no appreciable effect of probenecid on the distribution and transfer rate constants of riboflavin.Riboflavin was eliminated more slowly by hemodialysis of the patients than by renal excretion in normal subjects.The rate of removal of riboflavin by hemodialysis appears to be primarily a function of the rate of blood flow through the dialyzer.
Relations between personality traits and self-reports of daily behavior

Abstract This study investigates relations between personality traits and everyday behavior—an area of research that too often is ignored in contemporary personality assessment. Participants completed personality questionnaires and for 2 weeks kept daily records of behaviors related conceptually to 1 of 3 traits: aggression, exhibitionism, and impulsivity. Aggregating across time, correlations between 2 measures of trait aggression correlated .51 with behavioral aggression but only .14 and .18 with behavioral exhibitionism and behavioral impulsivity, respectively. Trait exhibitionism and trait impulsivity demonstrated similarly clean convergent/discriminant correlational patterns with the three types of behaviors. Many individual behavioral items also showed significant correlations with corresponding personality traits. Results are discussed in terms of using personality–behavior relations to further understanding of personality.
RESPONSE OF LAKE SAMMAMISH TO URBAN RUNOFF CONTROL

ABSTRACT A seasonal phosphorus model was used to predict the effect of proposed watershed development on water quality in Lake Sammamish, Wash. The model was calibrated and verified using daily loadings from two separate annual data sets. Phosphorus yields were scaled from literature values using actual loadings. Results indicate that substantial runoff controls should be applied to maintain water quality at its present, near oligotrophic state and prevent its return to a prewastewater diversion mesotrophic–eutrophic state.
Gender status beliefs

Abstract The continued existence of gender-based inequality is puzzling in light of changes in formal and informal norms prescribing equality and in the presence of attitudes reflecting belief in equality held by many people. An influential analysis by Ridgeway (1997) identifies status beliefs , ideas about competence differences that can be created by gender, as the root cause of such inequality. Status beliefs may exist below conscious awareness, and they exert weak yet continuous biasing of evaluations, behavior, and reward outcomes that can re-create gender advantages and disadvantages. We analyze the theoretical meaning of status beliefs and report an empirical study showing persistent status beliefs produced by gender, even in the presence of beliefs in gender equality and expressed intention to hire without regard to gender. We also report a new way to assess countervailing norms of equality in the presence of status beliefs. Finally, we suggest ways to use Ridgeway’s analysis and our findings to develop interventions aimed at countering effects of status beliefs in organizational settings.
Hypersexual Behavior and HIV Sex Risk among Young Gay and Bisexual Men

Hypersexual behavior has been identified as a sexual risk correlate among gay and bisexual men (GBM). The Hypersexual Behavior Inventory (HBI) has been shown to be a reliable and valid measure of hypersexual behavior in clinical populations, yet it has not been used to assess hypersexual behavior in nonclinical samples. We examined the psychometric properties of the HBI with survey data recorded between December 2009 and March 2010 in a sample of young men (N = 366, M = 21.46 years old, SD = 1.95) who self-identified as gay (89%) or bisexual (11%) and assessed its association with unprotected receptive anal intercourse (URAI) partners and occasions. Using cross-sectional data of single, sexually active young GBM (YGBM), we used confirmatory factor analyses to test the HBI's three-factor structure. Using negative binomial regressions, we then tested the association between the HBI subscales and sexual risk. After accounting for covariates, we found that sexual control was a risk factor for URAI partners an...
The True Johari−Goldstein β-Relaxation of Monosaccharides

Broadband isothermal dielectric relaxation measurements of anhydrous fructose, glucose, galactose, sorbose, and ribose were made at ambient pressure in their liquidus and glassy states. We found a new secondary relaxation in fructose and glucose that is slower than those seen before by others. This new secondary relaxation also appears in the dielectric spectra of galactose, sorbose, and ribose, and hence it is a general feature of the relaxation dynamics of the monosaccharides. Dielectric measurements at elevated pressure of fructose and ribose show that the new secondary relaxation shifts to lower frequencies with applied pressures, mimicking the behavior of the alpha-relaxation. In contrast, the faster secondary relaxation remains stationary on applying pressure. These results together with other inferences indicate that the slower secondary relaxation bears relations to the alpha-relaxation, and hence, it is the true Johari-Goldstein secondary relaxation of the monosaccharides.
Histochemical analysis of biological tissues using Raman spectroscopy

Abstract This paper reviews the application of the Raman spectroscopic technique for analysis of biological tissue. The advantages and disadvantages of visible, near-IR and UV excitations are described, and the problems and prospects of using these methodologies for disease diagnosis are addressed. In situ analysis of tissue proteins, lens, cornea, blood constituents, biological stones and several hard tissues is reviewed, and the potentials for diagnosing arterial disease, and cancer in gynecological tissues, soft tissues, breast, colon, bladder and brain are also presented. Recent technological advances in instrumentation allow the use of Raman spectroscopy for real time histochemical analysis of tissues. The capability of Raman microspectroscopy for providing spatial information about the distribution of biochemical constituents in tissues has been demonstrated. The work reviewed indicates the promise of Raman spectroscopy for endoscopic imaging and real-time quantitation of biochemical constituents in clinical situations.
Regulatory inertia and risk reduction

This paper is adapted from Chapter IV of the author's Ph.D. dissertation. The author gratefully acknowledges helpful comments from Therese Flaherty. Hajime Miyazaki, James Rosse, participants in the Stanford Economics Department Workshop in Industrial Organization and Applied Microeconomics, and an anonymous referee. This paper embodies the views of the author and does not represent the views or policy of the Federal Reserve System or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
APDA: A discontiguous S-R automated primate discrimination apparatus

The present paper describes a discontiguous S-R automated primate discrimination apparatus (APDA) designed to eliminate the stimulus sampling biases associated with previous manual and automated testing procedures and at the same time to provide greater specification of the S's intratrial discrimination behavior. Data from two simultaneous color discrimination problems are summarized as an evaluation of the current design.
Biocompatibility and In Vivo Tolerability of a New Class of Photoresponsive Alkoxylphenacyl-Based Polycarbonates

ABSTRACT: Potential toxicities of chromophoric or polymeric units of most photoresponsive delivery systems have impacted clinical relevance. Herein, we evaluated the biocompatibility and tolerability of alkoxylphenacyl-based polycarbonates (APPs) as a new class of photoresponsive polymers. The polymers were applied as homopolymer or copolymers of polyethylene glycol (10%, w/w) or polycaprolactone (10%, w/w). APP polymers were comparable to poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) based on cytotoxicity, macrophage activation, and blood compatibility. Data from biodistribution studies in BALB/c mice showed preferential accumulation in kidney and liver. Meanwhile, potential application of APP polymers as immediate or sustained (implants) drug delivery systems indicated that liver and kidney functions were not distorted. Also, plasma levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6 were comparable to PLGA-treated mice ( p > 0.05). A histological analysis of liver and kidney sections showed no detectable damage for APP polymers. The overall data strongly supported potential consideration of APP polymers as photoresponsive delivery systems especially as implantable or tissue-mimicking photopatterned biomaterials.
I-V characteristics of a thin-film transistor with graded channel thickness

The expression for source-drain characteristics of a thin-film transister with linearly graded channel thickness is presented based on a depletion-type operating in an enhancement mode. The saturation voltage derived from the I-V expression was found to decrease significantly, as compared to uniform channel having comparable semiconductor film thickness as the source end of the graded channel.
Tetrodotoxin derivatives: chemical structure and blockage of nerve membrane conductance.

The nerve-impuilse-blocking actions of derivatives of tetrodotoxin have been tested on lobster and squid axons. The block produced by deoxytetrodotoxin was similar to that produced by tetrodotoxin and was probably caused by tetrodotoxin contamination. Tetrodaminotoxin and anhydrotetrodotoxin also produced a similar block but at such high concentrations that tetrodotoxin contamination cannot be ruled out. The hydroxyl group of C4 and the hemilactal oxygen links play an important role for the nerve-blocking action.
Metal ion complexes of 2-acetylpyridine 3-(4-methyl)piperazinyl-thiosemicarbazone

Metal complexes of stoichiometries, [M(HLppz4M)X2] and [M(Lppz4M)X], are formed from nickel(II) and copper(II) halides and 2-acetylpyridine 3-(4-methyl)piperizinylthiosemicarbazone, HLppz4M. The [M(Lppz4M)X] complexes involve tridentate N(pyridyl), N(azomethinyl) and S(thiolate) coordination with a halo ligand completing the bonding. Neutral HLppz4M coordinatesvia the two nitrogen donors. Spectral evidence indicates the presence of a thiol hydrogen in Hppz4M complexes, the first to be reported for a coordinated thiosemicarbazone.
Preliminary results with GAUGUIN, an evolutionary computation approach to creating art in the suprematis style

This project explores the use of evolutionary computation to design two-dimensional artwork in the suprematist style. Using OpenGL libraries for rendering and GAUL for the evolutionary component, GAUGUIN allows the user to create art, without requiring any technical or artistic training. In using an evolutionary process to create the composition, all the user needs to do is evaluate a number of possible creations to explore the design space. The work presented here illustrates the prototype system and examples of the art that may be created with it. Future work will extend the design space to allow a wider range of possibilities and enhance the user-interface to allow more flexibility in design.
Introduction to the Issue on Ultrafast Science and Technology

The 53 papers in this special issue cover a broad range of areas, including next generation ultrafast sources and technologies, ultrafast spectroscopy and microscopy, and ultrafast x-ray and strong field science and applications.
Uniform frequency images: adding geometry to images to produce space-efficient textures

Discusses the concept of uniform frequency images, which exhibit uniform local frequency properties. Such images make optimal use of space when sampled close to their Nyquist limit. A warping function may be applied to an arbitrary image to redistribute its local frequency content, reducing its highest frequencies and increasing its lowest frequencies in order to approach this uniform frequency ideal. The warped image may then be downsampled according to its new, reduced Nyquist limit, thereby reducing its storage requirements. To reconstruct the original image, the inverse warp is applied. We present a general, top-down algorithm to automatically generate a piecewise-linear warping function with this frequency balancing property for a given input image. The image size is reduced by applying the warp and then downsampling. We store this warped, downsampled image plus a small number of polygons with texture coordinates to describe the inverse warp. The original image is later reconstructed by rendering the associated polygons with the warped image applied as a texture map, a process which is easily accelerated by current graphics hardware. As compared to previous image compression techniques, we generate a similar graceful space-quality tradeoff with the advantage of being able to "uncompress" images during rendering. We report results for several images with sizes ranging from 15,000 to 300,000 pixels, achieving reduction rates of 70-90% with improved quality over downsampling alone.
Police—Parole Partnerships in Canada: A Review of a Promising Programme

Funded by the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC), the Integrated Police–Parole Initiative (IPPI) places police officers in CSC offices, where they support the activities of parole staff. First introduced in 2006–07, these officers work with high-risk offenders in their transition from the penitentiary to community, in order to increase public safety. Analyses of technical violations of conditional releases revealed that sites where these officers were deployed successfully reduced the number of parole violations. These promising results suggest that the IPPI has avoided the ‘community removal’ element of parole supervision that is evident in some North American jurisdictions, and promotes the safe reintegration of offenders into the community. Implications for public safety, as well as law enforcement and correctional partnerships are discussed. Note: these data were originally obtained as part of a CSC analysis of the IPPI, but the opinions expressed within this study do not necessarily reflect those o...
An Investigation of Specimen Geometry Effects on the Fracture Behavior of a Polytetrafluoroethylene Polymer

Recent interest by the U.S. Navy in metal filled polymers for weapons applications has resulted in a desire to characterize interactions between polymer properties associated with strain rate sensitivity, pressure sensitivity, failure mechanisms, damage mechanisms, spall strength, crystalline response to shock loading, and dynamic fracture mechanics as well as the effects of loading the polymer with various metal fillers [1]. Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is an important structural polymer that in the “7C” derivative is used for gaskets, bearing pads, piston rings, and diaphragms and when 5μm aluminum spheres are added, has important ballistic properties. Prior work [2–4] evaluated the fracture toughness of PTFE and aluminum filled PTFE over a range of temperatures and loading rates using compact tension (C(T)) specimens and the normalization method [5–7] described in Annex A15 of ASTM E 1820. Moreover, prior work [3] has shown that filling the PTFE with 10 to 25 % aluminum 5μm spheres can increase stiffness and strength while the effect on toughness can be either positive or negative depending on the loading rate and test temperature. The overall effect on fracture toughness properties derived from adding the aluminum spheres to the PTFE is small and for that reason the unfilled PTFE material was used here to study the effects of geometry on fracture toughness in this material. The normalization method was initially chosen for this project because of the scarcity and cost of specimen material, especially the filled, reactive material, the many different test conditions to be investigated, and the inadequacy of alternative methods. It was quite fortunate that the normalization method was used initially to characterize this polymer since the fracture toughness resistance curves of this material often contains ductile instabilities or “pop-ins” which would not have been well characterized by multispecimen methods. The objective of this work is to compare the fracture toughness measurements obtained from C(T) and precracked Charpy (SE(B)) specimens tested under similar test conditions. A comparison is also made between J-R curves obtained using the single specimen normalization method and the “Basic” or multispecimen procedure. A limited study of the effects of side grooving on the crack extension and on the resulting J-R curves is included here.
Exercise myocardial perfusion imaging in elderly patients.

Background Exercise myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) has significant value for risk stratification, but most patients studied have been middle-aged. In particular, the value of exercise MPI in elderly patients with interpretable electrocardiographic (ECG) stress test results has not been well defined.
Synthesis and trimerization of fluorinated tertiary cyanates

Abstract Monofunctional and bifunctional bis(α,α-trifluoromethyl) cyanates were prepared by reaction of a fluorinated alkoxide with cyanogen bromide or cyanogen chloride. In the synthesis of bifunctional cyanates, the cyanation reaction required sufficient intramolecular separation for independent functional group reactivity. Monofunctional cyanates could be rapidly and quantitatively trimerized to cyclic cyanurates by catalytic quantities of AlCl 3 . Polymerization by trimerization of bifunctional cyanates under identical conditions was not successful, apparently, due to encasement of the catalyst by the polymer network.
Imaging Acetylcholine-Receptor-Induced Influx of Inorganic Ions at Single-Cell Resolution with Ion Microscopy

Abstract Ion microscopy was used to image neurotransmitter-induced tracer ion flux at single-cell resolution. A mammalian muscle cell line (BC3H1) expressing the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor was exposed to 2 m m CsCl, with and without the acetylcholine analog carbamycholine. 133Cs+, 12C+, 40Ca+, 39K+, and 23Na+ secondary ion images revealing intracellular distribution of these elements were recorded with a CAMECA IMS-3fion microscope from freeze-fractured freeze-dried BC3H1 cells. The ion images were digitized directly from the microchannel plate/fluorescent screen detector assembly of the ion microscope using a charge-coupled device imager. Submillimolar concentrations of cesium were easily imaged. Cesium images were normalized to carbon images for a direct comparison of carbamylcholine-exposed and control cells. Carbamylcholine-exposed cells showed significantly higher cesium influx than controls. Within the carbamylcholine-exposed cells, cell-to-cell heterogenity for cesium influx was observed. Injured cells were identified by their potassium, sodium, and calcium signals and omitted from the quantitative analysis of the ion image data. This method should be useful for identifying cells from various regions of the nervous system containing receptors that control the translocation of monovalent cations, including Cs+. Among these neuronal receptors in the central nervous system are those activated by acetylcholine, glutamate, aspartate, or N-methyl- d -aspartate.
Ion heating and magnetohydrodynamic dynamo fluctuations in the reversed-field pinch.

Ion temperature measurements, time resolved to 10 \ensuremath{\mu}s, have been made in the Madison Symmetric Torus (MST) reversed-field pinch with a five-channel charge-exchange analyzer. The ion temperature, ${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{i}}$\ensuremath{\approxeq}300 eV for I=360 kA, increases by as much as 100% during discrete dynamo bursts in MST discharges. Magnetic-field fluctuations in the range 0.5--5 MHz were also measured. Structure in the fluctuation frequency spectrum at the ion cyclotron frequency appears as the bursts terminate, suggesting that the mechanism of ion heating involves the dissipation of dynamo fluctuations at ion gyro-orbit scales.
Gamma ray polarimetry using a position sensitive germanium detector

Abstract Imaging gamma-ray detectors make sensitive polarimeters in the Compton energy regime by measuring the scatter direction of gamma rays. The principle is to capitalize on the angular dependence of the Compton scattering cross section to polarized gamma rays and measure the distribution of scatter directions within the detector. This technique is effective in a double-sided germanium detector between roughly 50 keV and 1 MeV. This paper reviews device characteristics important to the optimization of a Compton polarimeter, and summarizes measurements we have made using a device with a 5×5 cm active area, 1 cm thickness, and strip-electrodes on a 2 mm pitch.
Fusion rates of squeezed and screened hydrogenic nuclei.

We calculate the barrier penetration factor for hydrogen-like ions confined in a potential well as a function of the equilibrium separation and screening length of the medium. We show the penetration factor is extremely sensitive to these parameters, independently and in combination. The parameter values required to produce the high fusion rates reported for palladium hydride systems, however, are far from typical for these systems.
Radiolabeled antiviral drugs and antibodies as virus-specific imaging probes

A number of small-molecule drugs inhibit viral replication by binding directly to virion structural proteins or to the active site of a viral enzyme, or are chemically modified by a viral enzyme before inhibiting a downstream process. Similarly, antibodies used to prevent or treat viral infections attach to epitopes on virions or on viral proteins expressed on the surface of infected cells. Such drugs and antibodies can therefore be thought of as probes for the detection of viral infections, suggesting that they might be used as radiolabeled tracers to visualize sites of viral replication by single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) or positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. A current example of this approach is the PET imaging of herpes simplex virus infections, in which the viral thymidine kinase phosphorylates radiolabeled thymidine analogues, trapping them within infected cells. One of many possible future applications might be the use of a radiolabeled hepatitis C protease inhibitor to image infection in animals or humans and provide a quantitative measure of viral burden. This article reviews the basic features of radionuclide imaging and the characteristics of ideal tracer molecules, and discusses how antiviral drugs and antibodies could be evaluated for their suitability as virus-specific imaging probes. The use of labeled drugs as low-dose tracers would provide an alternative application for compounds that have failed to advance to clinical use because of insufficient in vivo potency, an unsuitable pharmacokinetic profile or hepato- or nephrotoxicity.
In-plane homogeneity and lipid dynamics in tethered bilayer lipid membranes (tBLMs)

Tethered bilayer lipid membranes (tBLMs) were prepared by the self-assembly of thiolated lipidic anchor molecules on gold, followed by phospholipid precipitation via rapid solvent exchange. They were characterized by their in-plane structure, dynamics and dielectric properties. We find that the in-plane homogeneity and resistivity of the tBLMs depend critically on a well-controlled sample environment during the rapid solvent-exchange procedure. The in-plane dynamics of the systems, assessed by fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) as the diffusivity of free, labeled phospholipid dissolved in the membrane, depend on the density of the lipidic anchors in the bilayer leaflet proximal to the substrate as well as on details of the molecular structure of the anchor lipid. In DOPC tBLMs in which tethers are laterally dilute (sparsely tethered bilayer lipid membranes, stBLMs), measured diffusivities, D ≈ 4 µm2 s−1, are only slightly greater than those reported in physisorbed bilayers (M. Przybylo, J. Sýkora, J. Humpolickova, A. Benda, A. Zan and M. Hof, Langmuir, 2006, 22, 9096–9099). However, when we distinguish label diffusion in the proximal and in the distal bilayer leaflets, we observe distinct diffusivities, D ≈ 2 µm2 s−1 and 7 µm2 s−1, respectively. The value observed in the distal leaflet is identical to that in free membranes. stBLMs completed with phytanoyl lipids (DPhyPC) show consistently lower label diffusivity than those completed with unsaturated chains (DOPC). As the length of the tether chain increases, a reduction in the apparent diffusivity is observed, which we interpret as an increased propensity of the proximal bilayer leaflet to host free lipid. We also investigated preparation conditions that control whether the tBLMs are laterally homogeneous, as assessed by optical microscopy. In laterally heterogeneous bilayers, the label diffusivity varies only by a factor of ∼2 to 4, indicating that the regions in the bilayers with different label solubilities do not correspond to distinct phases, such as a fluid phase coexisting with a gel phase.