cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Determination of minimum cutting tool paths in the presence of barriers

Abstract A software package is described that finds a minimum path tour for traveling salesman problems with barriers or obstructions blocking straight line travel. The package contains modules to (1) determine whether or not nodes (destinations) can be connected by straight lines, (2) find the shortest path between pairs of nodes if barriers are present, and (3) compute the minimum tour to visit all nodes and avoid barriers. The user may choose a tour that minimizes distance or minimizes time of travel. The latter assumes constant accelerations and declerations, and steady state tool velocity. Illustrations and sample calculations are presented. The set of algorithms in the software package is a heuristic although some aspects such as the shortest path calculations are optimal.
A globally concave, symmetric, flexible cost function

Abstract This paper describes a cost function that is globally concave, flexible, and treats all prices symmetrically. The derivation of this ‘CSFLEX’ cost function includes a new technique for proving flexibility of models.
The family relations of female juvenile delinquents

This study evaluated the assumption that the family relations of female delinquents are more dysfunctional than those of male delinquents. In a 2 × 2 (gender by delinquency status) design, 32 intact families were matched on demographic variables, and the male and female delinquents were matched on arrest data. Mothers, fathers, and adolescents were administered a selfreport personality inventory and were observed during a family interaction task. Consistent with the extant literature, families of delinquents had low rates of facultative information exchange and delinquent adolescents were more dominant toward their mothers than were well-adjusted adolescents. It was also observed that fathers of delinquents were more dominant toward their wives than were fathers of well-adjusted adolescents. In regard to the primary purpose of the study, it was observed that mother-adolescent dyads and parents in families of female delinquents had higher rates of conflict than their counterparts in families of male delinquents. In addition, the fathers of female delinquents were more neurotic than the fathers of male delinquents. These findings provide some support for the view that the families of female deliquents are especially dysfunctional.
Normal lymphocyte development and thymic lymphoma formation in Brca1 exon-11-deficient mice

Breast-cancer-associated gene 1 (BRCA1) is highly expressed in thymus and spleen. In this paper, we have studied lymphocyte development and tumorigenesis in mice carrying mutations in Brca1 and p53. We show that the deletion of Brca1 exon 11 (Brca1-delta11), which disrupts the full-length isoform, but not the short isoform of Brca1, does not interfere with lymphocyte development. This is true irrespective of p53 status, that is, whether it is wild type, heterozygous or homozygous for a null mutation. These data suggest that the expression of Brca1 short isoform alone is enough to maintain normal development of lymphocytes. However, it cannot suppress tumorigenesis as about 30% of Brca1(delta11/delta11)p53(+/-) mice develop thymic lymphoma between 3 and 7 months of age. We demonstrate that p53 plays an essential role in Brca1-associated lymphoma, as all the tumors from Brca1(delta11/delta11)p53(+/-) mice exhibit LOH of p53 and Brca1(delta11/delta11)p53(-/-) mice exhibited accelerated tumorigenesis. We further demonstrate that the Brca1-delta11 deficiency does not affect thymocyte proliferation; however, it increases genetic instability and triggers gamma-irradiation-induced apoptosis. The loss of p53 attenuates apoptosis and allows accumulation of further mutations in Brca1-delta11 thymocytes, eventually leading to thymic lymphoma formation.
IUPAC-NIST Solubility Data Series. 102. Solubility of Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) in Neat Organic Solvents and Organic Solvent Mixtures

Solubility data are compiled and reviewed for 33 nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs dissolved in neat organic solvents and in well-defined binary and ternary organic solvents. The compiled solubility data were retrieved primarily from the chemical and pharmaceutical literature covering the period from 1980 to the beginning of 2014.
Isolation and biochemical characterization of the H-2Kk and H-2Dk antigens from the RDM-4 lymphoma.

Abstract Milligram amounts of the H-2K k and H-2D k antigens from the RDM-4 lymphoma have been isolated in a one-step procedure employing affinity chromatography on monoclonal antibodies conjugated to Sepharose. The purified antigens have been characterized biochemically, including amino-terminal amino acid sequence and tryptic peptide analyses of the 45,000 mol. wt chains of the antigens. The amino acid sequence results for the H-2K k antigen, when compared with previously reported data for this molecule, reveal a discrepancy in the sequence of this 45,000 mol. wt chain. We postulate that this discrepancy reflects a previously undescribed polymorphism for the K k -gene. We also report the first amino-terminal amino acid sequence for the 45,000 mol. wt chain from the H-2D k antigen and demonstrate that the sequence of the β 2 -mieroglobulin obtained from the H-2K k antigen preparation is identical to that published previously. Finally, the structural integrity of the H-2K k antigen is assessed using binding of β 2 -microglobulin, incorporation into liposomes and reaction with antibodies as criteria.
Calculation of hydrodynamic parameters of random coil polymers from size exclusion chromatography and comparison with parameters by conventional methods

Abstract A new method of treating data from size exclusion chromatography, originally evaluated for native proteins, has been extended to random coil polymers using data from dextran and polyethylene glycol as specific examples. Columns are calibrated with globular proteins of known molecular weight. Multiplication by a constant transforms the abscissa to molecular radii. The constants in the equation r = gM Z are then evaluated directly from the size exclusion chromatographic data and compared with the corresponding constants obtained from viscometry, sedimentation velocity and light scattering, relating Stokes radius, root mean square end-to-end distance and radius of gyration to molecular weight.
Mycotoxins: Aflatoxin Isolated from Penicillium puberulum

Penicillium puberulum Bainer was found growing on a sample of moldy peanuts. It also grows on shredded wheat, potatoes, and laboratory culture media such as wort, potato dextrose, and Sabouraud agars, and synthesizes aflatoxin on these substrates. Thin-layer chromatograms of the chloroform-soluble toxin produced by the mold when grown on shredded wheat show fluorescent bands with R F values identical with those of the fractions B 1 , B 2 , G 1 , and G 2 of the toxin produced by Aspergillus flavus. This extract produces typical bile duct proliferation type of liver damage in 2-to 3-day-old Peking white ducklings.
Cortisol concentrations in early porcine embryos.

Abstract A study was conducted to determine the presence of cortisol in body tissue of porcine embryos at days 25 and 35 of gestation. Cortisol concentrations ( ng mg DNA) were low but measurable at day 25 and increased eightfold by day 35 during a time when body weight increased 6.4-fold. At day 35, there was a highly significant positive linear regression of body weight on cortisol concentrations. The source of this embryonic cortisol is not known, but its presence suggests the opportunity for cortisol to influence porcine embryonic development at these early gestational stages.
A scaling analysis of ER-2 data in the inner Arctic vortex during January-March 2000

[1] We apply multifractal analysis using exponents H1, C1, and α to straight and level stratospheric flight legs of the ER-2 high-altitude research aircraft in the inner vortex (defined as having wind speed <30 ms−1). The quantities so analyzed were ozone, wind speed s and temperature T, with the more gappy NOy data being analyzed by H1 alone. The results for ozone, wind, and temperature are presented as time-dependent data on the three possible planes of the exponents and are compared for the different variables. We relate values of H1 found in January observations of NOy to those found for ozone. Inner vortex mixing does not remove the small-scale polar stratospheric cloud-induced antipersistence (negative correlation between neighboring intervals for all choices of interval) in ozone by mid-March. Given that large particles were in evidence on all flights examined up to and including 7 March (although in greatly decreased numbers compared to January), this is reasonable. The value of α for ozone did, however, show an increase by mid-March, consistent with the widespread ozone loss evident from time series of histograms of ozone and methane. The histograms also demonstrate that inhomogeneity, with long tails in the probability distributions, is maintained throughout at the 15–25% level in both species. Interpretation is made in terms of polar stratospheric cloud (PSC) induced antipersistence competing with persistence induced by the large-scale insolation field, with the balance increasingly favoring the latter as time proceeds. Results are compared with inner vortex data obtained during earlier ER-2 flights in the Antarctic (1987) and in the Arctic (1989). The inner vortex over Antarctica showed significant increases in H1(O3) and α during mid to late September. The correlated increases are consistent with latitudinal excursions of the outer vortex after the cessation of PSC processing, with increased solar exposure increasing H1(O3) and a greater variety of filaments increasing α(O3). It is concluded that the results have implications for the calculation of photochemical ozone loss in the vortex as a function of time and show that the combined effects of Bolgiano-Obukhov k−11/5 vertical scaling and Kolmogorov k−5/3 horizontal scaling predict the scaling behavior of wind speed observed by the aircraft. Rates of change of scaling exponents are linked to horizontal mixing rates and are combined with rates of change of methane to estimate diabatic descent and ozone loss rates for the inner vortex.
Circuit Elements and Connections Inspired by Neurons

A new direction is struck with an analysis of natural pulses propagating along a realistic model of a neural membrane. Described below are interesting neural pulses that support the efficient generation of a wide variety of dense combinational and sequential logic. Although not new, the implied circuit elements and connections are interesting and may foreshadow the future of circuit engineering.
Fetal and postnatal brain MRI in premature infants with twin-twin transfusion syndrome.

To describe the findings on fetal and postnatal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in premature infants with twin–twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) and to determine whether currently used staging systems and other fetal and postnatal factors correlate with brain injury in this population. We performed a prospective study of 22 premature infants with TTTS whose mothers had fetal MRIs. Postnatal brain MRI was performed at term equivalent age (38 to 44 weeks) and medical records were reviewed. Brain injury was scored on fetal and postnatal MRIs using an injury scale incorporating hemorrhagic and nonhemorrhagic injury. The median (range) gestational age (GA) was 31 weeks (26 to 35) and birth weight (BW) was 1296 g (762 to 2330). In all, 5/22 patients (23%) had brain injury seen on fetal MRI and 15/22 patients (68%) had brain injury seen on postnatal MRI. Quintero stage was the only predictor variable that was significantly correlated with the total brain injury score (P=0.05). Postnatal brain injury in premature infants with TTTS is correlated with Quintero stage. GA and BW are not predictive of brain injury in this cohort of infants.
Detailed kinetic modeling of soot formation in shock-tube pyrolysis of acetylene

The chemical reaction pathways to soot were investigated by experimenting with detailed kinetic models of soot formation under the conditions used in shock-tube pyrolysis experiments. The analyses of the computational results revealed a single dominant route for the main soot mass growth. Fused polycyclic aromatics play a particularly important role: their formation reactions are essentially irreversible and have the effect of “pulling” chains of reversible reactions. Hydrogen atoms reactivate aromatic molecules to radicals by abstraction reactions. The main bottleneck appears at the formation of the first aromatic ring. The model explains the time scale of soot formation and soot yields obtained in shock-tube pyrolysis of acetylene and also is in accord with product distributions observed in flames.
The Effect of Noise Spectrum on Speech Recognition Performance-Intensity Functions

Articulation theory predicts that a subject’s absolute or masked threshold configuration will affect the slope of the speech recognition performance-intensity (P-I) function. This study was carried...
Monoclonal antibody reveals H-2-linked quantitative and qualitative variation in the expression of a Qa-2 region determinant.

We have produced a monoclonal antibody, Y-7, that reacts with a Qa-2 region-controlled determinant. Cellular and strain distribution analyses, coupled with quantitative variation in the amount of Y-7 antigen expressed among strains, provide overwhelming evidence that Y-7 reacts with the Qa-2a determinant. The determinant detected by Y-7 is differentially expressed in T and B lymphocytes in a strain specific manner. Y-7 reacts with the majority of T lymphocytes (> 95%) and approximately one-half of B lymphocytes in certain strains (++ strains), and with the majority of T lymphocytes (> 95%) and no B lymphocytes in other strains (+ strains). T lymphocytes in + strains express approximately three fold less of the Y-7 determinant than T lymphocytes from ++ strains. In addition, we show that the Y-7 determinant is expressed in approximately one-third to one-half of Lyb-3−, 5− B lymphocytes. Possible mechanisms determining quantitative and qualitative variation in the expression of the Y-7 determinant in T and B lymphocytes are discussed.
Popular Culture, Geopolitics, and Identity

Jason Dittmer Plymouth: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc, 2010., ix+179 pp, US$33.00 paperback, (ISBN 078-0-74-255634-8), US$89 hardback, (ISBN 978-0-74-255633-1) While an individual may see a ...
Rotational inviscid flow in laterally burning solid-propellant rocket motors

A theoretical analysis to determine the effects of mass addition on the inviscid but rotational and compressible flowfield in a porous duct with the injection rate dependent on the local pressure is performed for large ratios of length-to-duc t diameter. The problem of describing the flow is reduced to the solution of a single integral equation. The ratio of specific heat 7, and a constant pressure exponent u, measuring the dependence of the rate of mass injection on the local pressure, are the parameters of the solutions. The integral equation is solved numerically, and parametric results are presented for 7, varying from 1 to f and for n varying from 0 to 1. A choking phenomenon is exhibited at a critical length of the duct in the vicinity of which the Mach number approaches unity. The choking condition, which is relevant to the operation of nozzleless solid-propellant rocket motors, is obtained parametrically in the present study and compared with corresponding results for irrotational, quasi-one-dimensional flow. The rotationality reduces the choking pressure. Nomenclature A = cross-sectional area of the duct a = radius of the duct C = average speed-of-sound in the fluid cp = the specific heat of the fluid at constant pressure h = half-height of channel 7sp = specific impulse of the motor K = constant prefactor in the burning-rate law for the propellant / = length of the duct M = Mach number m = mass burning rate of the propellant n = pressure exponent in the burning-rate law for the propellant P = nondimensional pressure p/pQ p = dimensional pressure R - ratio of the specific impulse obtained by assuming quasi-one-dimensional flow to the specific impulse obtained by assuming rotational flow r = dimensional radial coordinate 5 = perimeter of the duct T - temperature t = time u = axial component of the velocity Vw = injection velocity v = radial component of the velocity X — nondimensional axial strained coordinate defined in Eq. (23) x = dimensional axial coordinate y = distance normal to.the propellant surface y = ratio of specific heat A =. boundary-layer thickness 8 = gas-phase flame standoff distance 17 = dimensional transverse coordinate in channel flow p pp = gas density = propellant density = function related to entropy
Evaluation of Impact of Statin Use on Development of CPK Elevation During Daptomycin Therapy

Background: Because both daptomycin and statins may increase creatine phosphokinase (CPK) levels, the manufacturer of daptomycin suggests considering holding statins during daptomycin therapy. Published evidence suggests potential detrimental effects of withdrawing statin therapy. Objectives: The objectives of this study were to determine the impact of concurrent statin therapy on peak CPK values, incidence of CPK elevation in patients receiving daptomycin therapy, and clinical factors associated with increased risk of developing CPK elevation. Methods: This was a single-center, retrospective cohort study of patients ≥18 years of age who received daptomycin for ≥72 hours and had ≥1 follow-up CPK during a 5-year period. A Kaplan-Meier curve was used to evaluate time to CPK elevation. Cox regression analyses were used to compare the risk of developing elevated CPK between 3 study groups: those receiving daptomycin alone, daptomycin with concurrent statin therapy, and statin therapy held while on daptomycin....
Localizing Haloperidol Effects on Sensorimotor Gating in a Predictive Model of Antipsychotic Potency

The degree to which a startle response to a loud noise is inhibited by a weak prestimulus is an operational measure of sensorimotor gating. Prepulse inhibition (PPI) can be measured across species and is reduced in schizophrenia patients and dopamine (DA)-activated rats. The ability of DA antagonists to restore PPI in apomorphine (APO)-treated rats correlates highly with their clinical antipsychotic potency. We compared the ability of systemic- vs. intracerebrally (i.c.)-administered haloperidol (HAL) to restore PPI in APO-treated rats. Consistent with previous studies, systemic administration of HAL completely restored PPI in rats treated with APO (0.5 mg/kg s.c.), with an ED50 of approximately 0.02 mg/kg. In an otherwise identical paradigm, HAL failed to fully restore PPI after infusion into either the nucleus accumbens (NACcore or NACshell), NACcore + caudate nucleus (CN), ventral subiculum (VS), medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC), or ventral tegmentum (VTA). A subtotal, but statistically significant restoration of PPI was achieved after HAL infusion into all regions, except the NACshell. Statistically significant effects of i.c. HAL tended to be observed at doses that were only approximately 5-10-fold lower than those at which significant effects were observed after systemic administration. The results suggest that systemically administered HAL may restore PPI in APO-treated rats through its action distributed throughout multiple levels of PPI-regulatory circuitry.
Clustering of Defects in Neutron‐Irradiated Beryllium Oxide

Transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction have been combined to study clustering of defects in BeO irradiated to neutron dosages ranging from 0.5 to 11.7×1020 nvt at pile ambient temperature (≈ 100°C). Dot clusters which form in the microstructure at dosages greater than about 1.0×1020 nvt are interpreted as being small interstitial loops, oriented on basal planes. X-ray diffraction patterns contain duplex peaks consisting of sharp components, which reflect changes in the bulk lattice, and broad components which are related to the basal clusters. The observations are consistent with a model containing interstitial basal clusters and random point interstitials, but do not necessarily rule out the presence of point vacancies. Elektronenmikroskopische Durchstrahlungsuntersuchungen und Beugungsmethoden mit Rontgenstrahlen werden kombiniert, um den Zusammenschlus von Defekten in neutronenbestrahltem BeO zu untersuchen. Die Neutronendosen lagen im Bereich 0,5 bis 11,7×1020 nvt bei Reaktortemperaturen um ≈ 100°C. Punktkomplexe, die sich in der Mikrostruktur bei Dosen groser als ungefahr 1,0×1020 nvt bilden, werden als kleine Zwischengitterplatzschleifen gedeutet, die in der Basisebene orientiert sind. Die Beugungsbilder enthalten Doppelmaxima aus scharfen Komponenten, die Anderungen des Gitters im Kristallinneren anzeigen, und breite Komponenten, die den Komplexen der Basisebene zugeordnet werden. Die Beobachtungen sind konsistent mit einem Modell, das Zwischengitterkomplexe in der Basisebene und willkurlich verteilte Zwischengitterpunktdefekte enthalt, aber nicht notwendig Punktlucken ausschliest.
Left Ventricular Outflow Tract Obstruction: An Indication for Intraoperative Transesophageal Echocardiography

Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) provides detailed anatomic imaging of both discrete and complex forms of left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction, and Doppler techniques provide additional information regarding the site, mechanism, and severity of the obstruction. Because the transaortic surgical approach to LVOT obstruction often provides limited direct visualization during surgery, we sought to evaluate the utility of intraoperative TEE during surgery for LVOT obstruction. We tested the hypotheses that intraoperative TEE would (1) be useful in defining the level and nature of LVOT obstruction, (2) serve to direct the surgical approach, (3) define the adequacy of relief of LVOT obstruction, and (4) detect surgical complications. Study population consisted of a consecutive series of 27 infants and children undergoing surgery for LVOT obstruction. Patient age ranged from 0.5 to 17.9 years, and weight from 5.4 to 71.2 kg. In 14 patients LVOT obstruction resulted from a discrete membrane, whereas 13 had complex forms of LVOT obstruction. Fully anesthetized and monitored patients were examined with 5 MHz TEE probes appropriate to the size of the patient. In the 14 patients with discrete LVOT obstruction, discrete membranes were identified by TEE in all; gradients ranged from 36 to 75 mm Hg. In 13 of 14 patients, postbypass TEE demonstrated removal of the membrane and excellent relief of gradients. In one of these patients, TEE demonstrated a small ventricular septal defect acquired during resection; the patient was returned to bypass for closure. In one patient, return to bypass for further resection of LVOT obstruction was prompted by TEE demonstration of a high residual gradient. In the 13 patients with complex LVOT obstruction, TEE demonstrated the complexity of LVOT obstruction in all. Gradients ranged from 4 to 95 mm Hg. Although this information was used in surgical ply, five patients had high residual gradients after bypass and underwent further resection. An additional two were returned to bypass for mitral valve replacement. Overall, 8 of 27 patients (29.696) were returned to bypass based on TEE demonstration of residual anatomic or hemodynamic abnormalities. This occurred s. ' candy more frequently in complex LVOT obstruction than in discrete LVOT obstruction ( p = 0.045). We conclude that intraoperative TEE has substantial utility in the demonstration of site, mechanism, and severity of LVOT obstruction and for surgery designed to relieve LVOT obstruction. We believe that TEE should be an integral part of surgical management of LVOT obstruction.
Plasma Line Emission Profile Measurements On ZT-40M

Two different approaches to spectral line emission profile measurement in the ZT-40M Reversed Field Pinch will be discussed. In the first case, VUV emissions (>> 50 nm) are dispersed by a 1-meter normal incidence spectrometer, then wavelength converted by sodium salycilate. The resultant visible image is magnified and dissected using a series of slits machined in a rotating drum which contains the detector. Resolutions of 0.06 nm and 0.1 ms are achieved. In the second method, visible and near UV light is dispersed in a 1-meter spectrometer which has an ITT Vidissector mounted at the exit plane. In this detector, photoelectrons generated at the photocathode are magnetically swept across a narrow slit, permitting scans over > 10 nm of the spectrum in < 0.1 ms. Spectral resolution of < 0.1 nm is also possible.© (1983) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Home Cholesterol Test Kits: Helpful or Harmful?

A home health test kit is a medical test approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration that can be purchased without a prescription and used in the privacy of the house. Release of home health testing kits into the market has enabled people to take care of their own health. Misinterpretation of results and delays in treatments are the major concerns of the doctors. In the present study, two cholesterol test kits, Accuchek® Instant plus® and Home Access® Instant Cholesterol Test, were compared. This research focused on user errors and clinical accuracy of the kits. The study was conducted with 30 participants, 15 men and 15 women. Participants tested their overall cholesterol level with both kits. In addition, a clinical cholesterol evaluation, the medical gold standard, was performed. The accuracy of both test kits was evaluated by comparing each of the test kit results with the clinical evaluation. The results of the study showed that inaccuracy of the test kit results did not depend on the ...
ON-SCENE COORDINATOR TRAINING: THE CHALLENGE AND THE SOLUTION

ABSTRACT Providing training and actual experience for on-scene coordinators can be accomplished by OSC meetings, tabletop exercises, and an annual training week involving classroom instruction and field exercises. The training part is easy; it's getting the students to the training that's hard.
210Po and 210Pb distributions and residence times in the nearshore region of Lake Superior

[1] The naturally occurring radionuclide, 210 Pb, and its decay daughter, 210 Po, were measured in the Keweenaw Peninsula region of Lake Superior. Water, suspended particles, sediment trap material (settling particles), and sediment cores and grab samples were collected along three transects that stretched from 1 to 20 km from shore. Departures from secular equilibrium (activity ratio of 210 Po: 210 Pb = 1) were observed for most samples. 210 Po-deficiency was observed in both suspended particles (TSP) with a ratio of 0.43 ± 0.05 (±95% confidence interval (CI)) and settling particles with a ratio of 0.57 ± 0.04; higher ratios in the settling particles resulted from an admixture of resuspended sediments. Ratios in the dissolved phase were 0.45 ± 0.12. Approximately 83% and 85% of total 210 Po and 210 Pb in the water column was in the particulate phase. No evidence of biological uptake of Po was found. Seasonal and spatial variability in activities and ratios was small. Using steady state solutions to the mass balance equations for both isotopes, similar residence times in the water column were calculated for 210 Po and 210 Pb (55 � 75 days in a 150-m-deep water column). It was possible to calibrate a one-box model for the paired isotopes so that the model output closely matched rates of sediment and isotope resuspension estimated from sediment traps. However, this calibration required a fractionation of the isotopes during resuspension. The particle settling velocity was estimated to be 2.3 m d � 1 , which also is in agreement with the estimate (2.4 ± 2.2 m d � 1 ) from sediment traps. These results indicate rapid fluxes of radioisotopes and sediments through the water column largely driven by resuspension of sediments in nearshore areas. INDEX TERMS: 1615 Global Change: Biogeochemical processes (4805); 4860 Oceanography: Biological and Chemical: Radioactivity and radioisotopes; 4239 Oceanography: General: Limnology; 9345 Information Related to Geographic Region: Large bodies of water (e.g., lakes and inland seas); KEYWORDS: polonium-210, lead-210, Lake Superior Citation: Chai, Y., and N. R. Urban (2004), 210 Po and 210 Pb distributions and residence times in the nearshore region of Lake
High-Throughput Discovery of New Chemical Reactions

Despite many notable advances in rational drug design, high-throughput methods that screen libraries of unrelated compounds have become essential tools in lead compound discovery. However, the discovery of chemical reactions, whether for rational synthesis, library generation, or large-scale manufacturing, has not benefited from high-throughput screening methods to nearly the same extent. On page 1423 of this issue, Robbins and Hartwig ( 1 ) describe an approach for high-throughput discovery of chemical reactions catalyzed by transition metals that simultaneously explores broad ranges of reactant functional groups and metal-ligand combinations.
Protease activity and the role of the endothelial glycocalyx in inflammation

A new paradigm for governance of leukocyte-endothelium (WBC-EC) adhesion during the inflammatory process is presented in which shedding of the endothelial glycocalyx exposes adhesion molecules on the EC surface, which promotes WBC-EC adhesion. It is postulated that the effector of this shedding is the activation of extracellular proteases, one of which may be a member of the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) family of zinc dependent endopetidases. This model for the role of the glycocalyx as a barrier to WBC-EC adhesion includes the additional participation of normally active extracellular proteolytic enzymes, i.e. sheddases, which may cleave proteoglycans or activate lyases that cleave GAG chains in the glycocalyx. In support of this hypothesis, studies are examined which have established the concurrent activation of MMP proenzymes on the EC surface, shedding of the glycocalyx, and enhanced WBC-EC adhesion.
The selection and prevalence of natural and fortified calcium food sources in the diets of adolescent girls.

Abstract Objective To assess the impact of calcium-fortified food and dairy food on selected nutrient intakes in the diets of adolescent girls. Design Randomized controlled trial, secondary analysis. Setting and Participants Adolescent girls (n = 149) from a midwestern metropolitan area participated in randomized controlled trials of bone physiology from 1997 to 2008. Intervention Subjects randomly assigned to a high-calcium (HC) diet supplying 1,500 mg calcium/d, or their usual diet (UC). Main Outcome Measures Dietary intake was assessed from 3-day food records and calcium intakes categorized by food source. Food group composites, representing calcium-fortified and dairy food categories, were examined for their relative nutrient contributions. Student t tests were used to evaluate differences in selected nutrient intakes between the 2 study groups. Results Dairy food contributed 68% of the total mean 1,494 mg calcium/d in the HC group, and calcium-fortified food contributed 304 mg calcium. In the UC group, dairy food contributed 69% of the total mean 765 mg calcium/d and calcium-fortified food contributed 50 mg calcium. Nutrient profiles of the dairy composites differed significantly from the calcium-fortified composites (P Conclusions and Implications Dairy food was the primary source of calcium selected by these adolescent girls; calcium-fortified food augmented calcium intakes.
PERCEPTIONS OF UNCONDITIONAL AND CONDITIONAL WORTH AMONG COLLEGE STUDENTS

Self-esteem scales tend to represent conditional perceptions of self-esteem. The Worth Index has been previously validated as an effective measure for identifying both conditional and unconditional perceptions of worth. We administered the Worth Index to 1,161 college-aged students at Brigham Young University to assess their current perceptions of unconditional and conditional worth. Both men and women agreed more strongly with items involving unconditional worth than conditional worth. A negative correlation was found between ratings of unconditional and conditional worth. Women had lower unconditional worth scores than men, which was related to being more likely to wish they were someone else, desire to have a better body, and to being concerned about weight. Agreement with two overview measures of self-esteem involving a "good" sense of self and stability of self-esteem was positively associated with agreement on statements about unconditional worth. This research shows the importance of incorporating unconditional worth into self-esteem measures.
Promoting Higher Order Thinking in Social Studies: Overview of a Study of 16 High School Departments

A study of social studies departments in 16 high schools examined the extent to which higher order thinking was promoted and how barriers were overcome in the more successful departments. This overview article presents a conception of higher order thinking grounded in non-routine intellectual challenges, a discussion of the role of knowledge, skills and dispositions in meeting them, and the observation scheme used to assess classroom thoughtfulness. It describes the research design and previews the four ensuing articles that report empirical findings.
Simulation Methods for Predicting Fusing Current and Time for Encapsulated Wire Bonds

Wirebonding is a process often used to provide electrical connection between the silicon chip and the external leads of a semiconductor device using very fine wires. For high-power IC chips, as device size inevitably decreases, the wire diameter unfortunately must decrease due to the need of finer pitch wires. Fusing or melting of wirebonds thus increasingly becomes one of the potential failure issues for such ICs. This paper presents a finite element model that correlates very well with the observed maximum operating currents for such wirebonds under actual experimental test conditions. Aluminum, gold, and copper wires of different dimensions have been considered. The simulations have been done for transient as well as steady state, both for wires in air, and encapsulated in molding compounds.
Discrete-Time Repetitivey Control System Design using the Regeneration Spectrum

The stability, transient response and stability robustness of discrete-time repetitive control systems is examined here using a function of frequency termed the regeneration spectrum. A design procedure for discrete-time repetitive control systems, based on the regeneration spectrum, is outlined and a controller form suggested to effectively handle the trade-off between the different aspects of controlled system behavior. The controller design procedure is applied to an electrohydraulic material testing application characterized by strong nonlinearities, and shown experimentally to be effective in improving the controlled system performance.
Nutrition and cancer

Evidence from both animal and epidemiologic studies indicate that throughout life excessive energy intake in relation to requirements increases risk of human cancer. Rapid growth rates in childhood lead to earlier age at menarche, which in turn increases risk of breast cancer, and accumulation of body fat in adulthood in related to cancers of the colon, kidney, and endometrium as well as postmenopausal breast cancer. Higher intake of vegetables and fruits has been associated with lower risks of many cancers. The constituents responsible for these apparent protective effects remain uncertain, although evidence supports a contribution of folic acid. Recent evidence suggests that the percentage of energy from fat in the diet is not a major cause of cancers of the breast or colon. Higher intake of meat and dairy products has been associated with greater risk of prostate cancer, which may be related to their saturated fat content. Also, red meat consumption has been associated with risk of colon cancer in numerous studies, but this appears to be unrelated to its fat content. Excessive consumption of alcohol increases risks of upper gastrointestinal tract and even moderate intake appears to increase cancers of the breast and large bowel. Although many details remain to be learned, evidence is strong that remaining physically active and lean throughout life, consuming an abundance of fruits and vegetables, and avoiding high intakes of red meat, foods high in animal fat, and excessive alcohol will substantially reduce risk of human cancer.
Approximate models for the ion-kinetic regime in inertial-confinement-fusion capsule implosions

“Reduced” (i.e., simplified or approximate) ion-kinetic (RIK) models in radiation-hydrodynamic simulations permit a useful description of inertial-confinement-fusion (ICF) implosions where kinetic deviations from hydrodynamic behavior are important. For implosions in or near the kinetic regime (i.e., when ion mean free paths are comparable to the capsule size), simulations using a RIK model give a detailed picture of the time- and space-dependent structure of imploding capsules, allow an assessment of the relative importance of various kinetic processes during the implosion, enable explanations of past and current observations, and permit predictions of the results of future experiments. The RIK simulation method described here uses moment-based reduced kinetic models for transport of mass, momentum, and energy by long-mean-free-path ions, a model for the decrease of fusion reactivity owing to the associated modification of the ion distribution function, and a model of hydrodynamic turbulent mixing. The transport models are based on local gradient-diffusion approximations for the transport of moments of the ion distribution functions, with coefficients to impose flux limiting or account for transport modification. After calibration against a reference set of ICF implosions spanning the hydrodynamic-to-kinetic transition, the method has useful, quantifiable predictive ability over a broad range of capsule parameter space. Calibrated RIK simulations show that an important contributor to ion species separation in ICF capsule implosions is the preferential flux of longer-mean-free-path species out of the fuel and into the shell, leaving the fuel relatively enriched in species with shorter mean free paths. Also, the transport of ion thermal energy is enhanced in the kinetic regime, causing the fuel region to have a more uniform, lower ion temperature, extending over a larger volume, than implied by clean simulations. We expect that the success of our simple approach will motivate continued theoretical research into the development of first-principles-based, comprehensive, self-consistent, yet useable models of kinetic multispecies ion behavior in ICF plasmas.
Appreciating the Complexity of Project Management Execution: Using Simulation in the Classroom.

As the popularity and importance of project management increase, so does the need for well-prepared project managers. This article discusses our experiences using a project management simulation in undergraduate and MBA classes to help students better grasp the complexity of project management. This approach gives students hands-on experience with many facets in the project management life cycle and provides them with feedback on their performance as project managers. This article provides an overview of the simulation exercises, guidance for classroom integration, and evidence of effectiveness.
Contribution of nitrite and nitrate to the colour and flavour of cured meats

The formation of nitric oxide myoglobin from nitrite and myoglobin involves a complex series of reactions not all of which are completely understood even now, and the stability of the cured colour, so important from the marketing point of view, continues to be investigated. The amount of nitrite necessary for complete formation of nitric oxide myoglobin is very small and the presence of no more than 25 mg/kg of nitrite in the cured meat is enough to ensure an adequately stable colour. At least four times this level is essential to produce a full development of the typical cured flavour. Very little is known of the mechanism of the reactions leading to the formation of cured flavours in cooked products or of the identity of the volatile substances responsible for it.
Examination of a Clinical Prediction Rule to Identify Patients With Neck Pain Likely to Benefit From Thoracic Spine Thrust Manipulation and a General Cervical Range of Motion Exercise: Multi-Center Randomized Clinical Trial

Background. A clinical prediction rule (CPR) purported to identify patients with neck pain who are likely to respond to thoracic spine thrust manipulation has recently been developed, but has yet to be validated. Objective. The purpose of this study was to examine the validity of this CPR. Design. This was a multi-center randomized clinical trial. Methods. One hundred forty patients with a primary report of neck pain were randomly assigned to receive either 5 sessions of stretching and strengthening exercise (exercise-only group) or 2 sessions of thoracic spine manipulation and cervical range of motion exercise followed by 3 sessions of stretching and strengthening exercise (manipulation exercise group). Data on disability and pain were collected at baseline, 1 week, 4 weeks, and 6 months. The primary aim (treatment group time status on the prediction rule) was examined using a linear mixed model with repeated measures. Time, treatment group, and status on the rule, as well as all possible 2-way and 3-way interactions, were modeled as fixed effects, with disability (and pain) as the dependent variable. Effect sizes were calculated for both pain and disability at each follow-up period. Results. There was no 3-way interaction for either disability or pain. A 2-way (group time) interaction existed for both disability and pain. Pair-wise comparisons of disability demonstrated that significant differences existed at each follow-up period between the manipulation exercise group and the exercise-only group. The patients who received manipulation exhibited lower pain scores at the 1-week follow-up period. The effect sizes were moderate for disability at each follow-up period and were moderate for pain at the 1-week follow-up. Limitations. Different exercise approaches may have resulted in a different outcome. Conclusions. The results of the current study did not support the validity of the previously developed CPR. However, the results demonstrated that patients with mechanical neck pain who received thoracic spine manipulation and exercise exhibited significantly greater improvements in disability at both the short- and longterm follow-up periods and in pain at the 1-week follow-up compared with patients who received exercise only.
Auditory stimulus optimization with feedback from fuzzy clustering of neuronal responses

The primary focus of this paper was to develop a high-performance computer system for optimizing auditory stimuli based on neuronal feedback. Using the algorithm of pattern extraction (ALOPEX) extra-cellular action potentials (APs) recorded from frog (Rana Pipiens) auditory neurons were used as feedback to optimize sound stimuli. This computer-based system works in real time to iteratively find the neuron's best excitatory frequency (BEF). Three programmable (positive and negative) threshold logic levels are used to collect 300 APs in response to normalized pure tones. Fuzzy logic is then used to separate up to five fuzzy centers (templates) from the 300 APs. The fuzzy centers are used for on-line fuzzy mapping of future responses. The five fuzzy centers allow the system to monitor up to five neighboring neurons. To study the auditory neurons of the frog, one, two, and three simultaneous tones are used as the stimulus for optimization of the best combination of frequencies. Testing with the response calculated as a parabolic function of a single best frequency demonstrated system dynamics and reliability for up to nine simultaneous tones. Experiments using one pure tone and ten stimulus presentations per iteration showed that the automated system is able to repeatedly converge to the best frequency within 100 iterations. Studies using one, two, and then three pure tones played simultaneously on the same group of neurons has shown that these tones converged on the same best frequencies by properly mixing the tones available to produce the optimal complex sound.
FUNCTIONAL INSIGHTS FROM STRUCTURAL PREDICTIONS : ANALYSIS OF THE ESCHERICHIA COLI GENOME

Fold assignments for proteins from the Escherichia coli genome are carried out using BASIC, a profile-profile alignment algorithm, recently tested on fold recognition benchmarks and on the Mycoplasma genitalium genome and PSI BLAST, the newest generation of the de facto standard in homology search algorithms. The fold assignments are followed by automated modeling and the resulting three-dimensional models are analyzed for possible function prediction. Close to 30% of the proteins encoded in the E. coli genome can be recognized as homologous to a protein family with known structure. Most of these homologies (23% of the entire genome) can be recognized both by PSI BLAST and BASIC algorithms, but the latter recognizes an additional 260 homologies. Previous estimates suggested that only 10-15% of E. coli proteins can be characterized this way. This dramatic increase in the number of recognized homologies between E. coli proteins and structurally characterized protein families is partly due to the rapid increase of the database of known protein structures, but mostly it is due to the significant improvement in prediction algorithms. Knowing protein structure adds a new dimension to our understanding of its function and the predictions presented here can be used to predict function for uncharacterized proteins. Several examples, analyzed in more detail in this paper, include the DPS protein protecting DNA from oxidative damage (predicted to be homologous to ferritin with iron ion acting as a reducing agent) and the ahpC/tsa family of proteins, which provides resistance to various oxidating agents (predicted to be homologous to glutathione peroxidase).
Placebo Effect in the Treatment of Acute Cough in Infants and Toddlers: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Importance Cough is one of the most common reasons why children visit a health care professional. Objectives To compare the effect of a novel formulation of pasteurized agave nectar vs placebo and no treatment on nocturnal cough and the sleep difficulty associated with nonspecific acute cough in infants and toddlers. Design, Setting, and Participants In this randomized clinical trial performed in 2 university-affiliated outpatient, general pediatric practices from January 28, 2013, through February 28, 2014, children 2 to 47 months old with nonspecific acute cough duration of 7 days or less were studied. Surveys were administered to parents on 2 consecutive days, the day of presentation (when no medication had been given the prior evening) and the next day (when agave nectar, placebo, or no treatment had been administered to their child before bedtime) according to a partially double-blind randomization scheme. Interventions A single dose of agave nectar, placebo, or no treatment administered 30 minutes before bedtime. Main Outcomes and Measures Cough frequency, cough severity, cough bothersomeness, congestion severity, rhinorrhea severity, and cough effect on child and parent sleep. Results Significant differences in symptom improvement were detected between the study groups (P Conclusions and Relevance In a comparison of agave nectar, placebo, and no treatment, a placebo effect was demonstrated, with no additional benefit offered by agave nectar. Health care professionals should consider the potential benefits and costs when recommending a treatment with only a placebo effect for infants and toddlers with nonspecific acute cough. Trial Registration clinicaltrials.gov Identifier:NCT01721395