cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cimetidine dosage regimen for patients with renal failure and for geriatric patients.

Using a recently developed computer program based on a correlation between methods to predict the elimination half-life and apparent volume of distribution of cimetidine and actual data from patients, ideal dosage regimens were generated for patients with renal impairment and for geriatric patients, together with the corresponding maximum and minimum steady state concentrations. Using the ideal dosage regimens, practical regimens with feasible dosing intervals of 6, 8 and 12 h were computed, which should result in therapeutic concentrations of 0.4 to 1.3 µg/ml. For uraemic patients and geriatric patients above the age of 75 years it would be desirable to have an additional oral 100 mg dosage form.
Status of the development of ignition capsules in the U.S. effort to achieve thermonuclear ignition on the national ignition facility

An important component of the U.S. effort to achieve thermonuclear ignition in 2010 on the National Ignition Facility is the development of high quality 2 mm diameter spherical capsules to function as the ablator and contain the cryogenic DT fuel. Three ignition capsule designs have been developed, and detailed fabrication specifications for each design have been established and placed under change control. A research program with activities coordinated mainly between Lawrence Livermore, General Atomics and Los Alamos is underway to demonstrate fabrication of capsules meeting specifications. The point design for ignition campaigns beginning in 2010 is a Cu-doped Be capsule that has a radial gradient in Cu dopant level in the capsule wall. This capsule is being produced by sputter deposition of Be and Cu onto either a hollow glow discharge polymer (GDP) spherical mandrel or a solid spherical mandrel, followed by removal of the mandrel and polishing of the capsule. A key goal in the U.S. is to demonstrate fabrication of this capsule by the end of 2006. Two other ignition capsule designs are also being developed as contingencies to the point design. One contingency design is a GDP capsule that has a radial Ge dopant level in its wall. This capsule is produced by co-deposition of Ge and GDP onto a PAMS mandrel followed by thermal removal of the mandrel. The second contingency design is a uniform Cu-doped Be capsule that is fabricated from high purity fine grain Be0.3at.%Cu alloy using a precision machining route followed by polishing. Ignition targets to be fielded in 2010 will be filled with DT fuel through a small fill hole. Laser drilling capability has been developed and used to drill approximately 5 μm diameter holes through capsule walls for DT filling. Characterization methods necessary for characterizing capsules are being developed.
Recent advances in transarterial therapy of primary and secondary liver malignancies.

The management of liver malignancies presents many challenges. Few patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma or metastatic disease of the liver are eligible for surgery, which is the only curative therapeutic option. Because the hepatic tumor burden is often a determinant of eligibility for surgery and is a primary contributor to morbidity and mortality, an increasing number of innovative techniques based on the transarterial administration of liver-directed drug-eluting or radiation-emitting microspheres are being tested for use in cytoreductive and palliative therapy. The delivery of therapy via a transarterial route takes advantage of the fact that hepatic malignancies are primarily supplied by the hepatic artery. The early results of clinical trials are promising; the clinical effectiveness and safety of drug-eluting and yttrium-90–bearing microspheres have been demonstrated; however, further clinical investigation is needed to verify a benefit in survival. Transarterially administered gene thera...
A multi-layered display with water drops

We present a multi-layered display that uses water drops as voxels. Water drops refract most incident light, making them excellent wide-angle lenses. Each 2D layer of our display can exhibit arbitrary visual content, creating a layered-depth (2.5D) display. Our system consists of a single projector-camera system and a set of linear drop generator manifolds that are tightly synchronized and controlled using a computer. Following the principles of fluid mechanics, we are able to accurately generate and control drops so that, at any time instant, no two drops occupy the same projector pixel's line-of-sight. This drop control is combined with an algorithm for space-time division of projector light rays. Our prototype system has up to four layers, with each layer consisting of an row of 50 drops that can be generated at up to 60 Hz. The effective resolution of the display is 50x projector vertical-resolution x number of layers. We show how this water drop display can be used for text, videos, and interactive games.
Phosphorylation of sperm histone during spermiogenesis in mammals.

Abstract The condensed portion of testis chromatin obtained from various mammals (bull, guinea pig, hamster, mouse, rabbit and rat) has been separated into a light fraction, in which somatic-type histone is being replaced by sperm histone, and a heavy fraction, in which the histone change has essentially been completed. Phosphorylation of sperm histone isolated from these chromatin fractions and of the epididymal sperm histone has then been analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and CM-52 column chromatography. In all species studied, sperm histone in the heavy fraction of testis chromatin is phosphorylated more extensively than that in the light fraction, while epididymal sperm histone consists mainly of unmodified molecules. These results suggest that phosphorylation-dephosphorylation of sperm histone occurs on the chromatin during the packaging of DNA. Degrees of phosphorylation of sperm histones vary considerably from species to species. Tetraphospho-, triphospho-, diphospho- and monophospho-sperm histone are found in the heavy fraction of rat testis chromatin. In guinea pig, hamster and mouse the corresponding chromatin fraction contains diphospho-, monophospho- and unmodified sperm histone, while only monophospho- and unmodified sperm histone are detectable in rabbit and bull. The observed differences of sperm histone phosphorylation may be a reflection of the differences of structure of sperm histone in various mammals. Phosphorylation is probably involved in the proper condensation of spermatid chromatin during mammalian spermiogenesis.
Neurophysiology of motor function following cannabis discontinuation in chronic cannabis smokers: an fMRI study.

Abstract The objective of this study was to identify the differences in cerebral activation between chronic cannabis smokers and controls in response to finger sequencing. We hypothesized that attentional areas related to motor function as well as primary and supplementary motor cortices would show diminished activation in chronic cannabis smokers. Nine cannabis smokers and 16 controls were included in these analyses. Scanning was performed on a GE 1.5 T scanner. Echo planar images and high-resolution MR images were acquired. The challenge paradigm included left and right finger sequencing. Group differences in cerebral activation were examined for Brodmann areas (BA) 4, 6, 24, and 32 using ROI analyses in SPM. Cannabis users, tested within 4–36 h of discontinuation, exhibited significantly less activation than controls in BA 24 and 32 bilaterally during right- and left-sided sequencing and for BA 6 in all tasks except for left-sided sequencing in the left hemisphere. There were no statistically significant differences for BA 4. None of these regional activations correlated with urinary cannabis concentration and verbal IQ for smokers. These results suggest that recently abstinent chronic cannabis smokers produce reduced activation in motor cortical areas in response to finger sequencing compared to controls.
Metabolie Engineering of Floral Scent of Ornamentals

Abstract Flowers of many plant species emit floral scent to attract pollinators. Such scents are often complex mixtures of various small aliphatic molecules, mostly terpenoid, phenylpropanoid, and benzenoid compounds. However, a large number of commercial flower varieties have lost their scent during the traditional breeding process. This lack of scent has been recognized as one of the major problems in the floriculture industry. Recent discoveries of genes encoding enzymes catalyzing the synthesis of scent compounds, and advances in our understanding of the regulation of scent biosynthetic genes, now make it possible to engineer plants with increased scent or with newly introduced aromas. Past approaches for metabolic engineering of floral scent have used various strategies, including the introduction of new scent genes and the blockage of existing non-scent pathways to divert metabolites into scent production. However, these experiments have only been partially successful. Problems have included the lac...
Identification by 13C n.m.r. of carbon types in shale oil and their relation to pyrolysis conditions

Abstract A number of samples of shale oil prepared under various conditions have been examined by 13C n.m.r. using multiple-pulse techniques that allow carbon-type assignments. Previous assignments by Netzel et al. (Fuel 1981, 60, 307) are confirmed and several new ones made. Product chemistry is then examined as a function of heating conditions. New or verified observations are: 1. (1) isoprenoids are evolved in the early stages of oil generation, and the average length of normal hydrocarbons in the evolved oil is approximately independent of the extent of kerogen conversion; 2. (2) alkene content depends strongly on the heating rate during pyrolysis but average normal chain length does not; and 3. (3) the ratio of isoprenoid to normal carbons and the average normal chain length in bitumen are greater than in shale oil, but there are greater questions about the correct equation for calculating the average normal chain length of bitumen.
Circadian rhythms: from gene expression to behavior.

Circadian rhythms regulate the functions of living systems at virtually every level of organization, from molecule to organism. In the past year, our understanding of the cellular and molecular processes involved in the generation and regulation of circadian rhythms has advanced considerably. New in vitro model systems for studying circadian oscillators have been developed, a potential regulatory role for cellular immediate-early genes in circadian behavior has been discovered, critical periods for macromolecular synthesis for progression of the circadian clock through its cycle have been defined, and studies of the Drosophila period gene have offered new insight into the clock mechanism. These findings are of particular interest because independent approaches using vertebrates, mollusks and Drosophila all point to a common theme that involves the expression of ‘clock proteins’ as the basis of the timing mechanism.
Vibrational assignment and analysis for 2,3-dihydrofuran and 2,5-dihydrofuran

Abstract The vibrational spectra of 2,3-dihydrofuran and 2,5-dihydrofuran have been recorded using IR and Raman spectroscopy for the gas, liquid and solid states. A vibrational assignment consisting of a nearly complete set of vapor phase wavenumbers is proposed for both molecules based on the observed spectra and normal coordinate analyses. The normal coordinate analyses have been made by scaling the AM1 force field for each molecule with scale factors transferred from an analysis of the cyclopentene fundamental vibrations. The predicted a priori vibrational frequencies justify one reassignment of the fundamentals for 2,5-dihydrofuran from that previously reported. The vibrational assignment for 2,3-dihydrofuran is reported for the first time. Thermodynamic functions are computed for each molecule using the experimentally determined vibrational frequencies.
A Possible Use of Multi-Sensor Satellite Observations for Inferring the Drop Collection Efficiency of Warm Clouds

This study proposes a combined use of spaceborne cloud profiling radar, shortwave and microwave measurements provided by the A-Train constellation of satellites to investigate the warm-rain collection process in low clouds. The continuous collection model is employed to interpret the relationship between the observables of CloudSat, MODIS and AMSR-E measurements. The theoretical formula representing the collection process involves the collection efficiency factor, which is then inferred from these observations by exploiting the differing sensitivities of these sensors to cloud drop sizes. The collection efficiency implied ranges from the order of 0.001 to that of 1.0, and is systematically larger than estimated by traditional methods when updraft velocity is ignored in the continuous collection model. The collection efficiency is also found to increase with columnar effective particle radius in a manner consistent with classical relationships. These results suggest that the new observations provide a gross measure of the real collection efficiency factor on the global scale.
Tree-based threshold modeling for short-term forecast of daily maximum ozone level

This paper proposes a simple class of threshold autoregressive model for purpose of forecasting daily maximum ozone concentrations in Southern California. Linear time series model has been widely considered in environmental modeling. However, this class of models fails to capture the nonlinearity in ozone process and the complexity of meteorological interactions with ozone. In this article, we used the threshold autoregressive models with two classes of regimes; periodic and meteorological regimes. Days in week were used for the periodic regimes and the regression tree method was used to define the regimes as a function of meteorological variables. As the reference model we used the autoregressive model with lagged ozone and various lagged meteorological variables as the covariates. The proposed models were applied to a 3-year dataset of daily maximum ozone concentrations obtained from five monitoring stations in San Bernardino County, CA and their forecast performances were evaluated using an independent year-long dataset from the same stations. The results showed that the threshold models well capture the nonlinearity in ozone process and remove the nonstationarity in model residuals. The threshold models outperformed the non-threshold autoregressive models in day-ahead forecasts. The tree-based model showed slightly better performance than the periodic threshold model.
Heparin-dependent platelet factor 4 antibodies and the impact of renal function on clinical outcomes: a retrospective study in hospitalized patients

Patients who develop thrombocytopenia and heparin-dependent platelet factor 4 antibodies while on or shortly after receiving a heparin product are often considered for alternative anticoagulation to minimize the occurrence of life and limb-threatening events. We retrospectively reviewed the hospital records of 97 patients with heparin-dependent platelet factor 4 antibodies (at least 65 of whom were felt by the primary team to have HIT) to determine the influence of renal performance on alternative anticoagulant selection and associated clinical events. For GFR > 30, approximately 30% of patients who did not receive alternative anticoagulation had documentation of concern for HIT versus 60% of patients in the GFR < 30 group. We found that a smaller proportion of patients with severe renal insufficiency, GFRs < 30 ml/min/1.73 m2 were treated with an alternative anticoagulant—this despite their high incidence of thromboembolic events and comparable rates of HIT. Overall, rates of hemorrhage did not differ between patients when compared to those without renal insufficiency. However, there was a higher percentage of hemorrhagic events for patients with GFR < 30 ml/min/1.73 m2 on alternative anticoagulants. This study demonstrates that patient’s with GFRs < 30 ml/min/1.73 m2 need to be assessed for overall hemorrhagic risk at the time of starting an alternative anticoagulant and need to be monitored closely to avoid hemorrhagic events.
Synthesis of elastic structures with controlled forces

Abstract An analytical model is presented for synthesis of elastic structural systems under external loads and desired “controlled forces”. In the first stage, the optimal force distribution and the final cross sectional dimensions are chosen, solving an optimization problem with elastic compatibility temporarily excluded. In the second stage, the force due to the external loads is determined for the optimal structure by elastic analysis, and the desired controlled force needed for the optimal cross sections and force distribution is obtained by subtracting the above result from the optimal force of the first stage. The final design which has been determined in the first stage, satisfies both conditions of equilibrium and compatibility. It is a lower-bound solution for a similar incontrolled elastic system. In some cases the first-stage optimization problem may be cast in linear programming form. Numerical examples of continuous beam and indeterminate truss demonstrate application of the proposed method.
EFFECT OF CARBOHYDRATE SUBSTRATE AVAILABILITY ON RATINGS OF PERCEIVED EXERTION DURING PROLONGED EXERCISE OF MODERATE INTENSITY

This investigation examined the effect of carbohydrate substrate availability on ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) during cycling at moderate intensity to exhaustion and the relation between submaximal endurance performance and RPE obtained following 2 hr. of cycling at moderate intensity. Seven male cyclists performed two exercise trials at power output corresponding to 70% of their peak oxygen uptake until exhaustion. Subjects ingested either a 6% glucose/sucrose solution at the rate of 0.6 g.kg-1 (Body Weight).hr.-1 or an equal volume of artificially flavored placebo every 20 min. throughout the exercise trials. RPE for the legs, chest, and over-all body, and oxygen consumption, expired ventilation, carbohydrate oxidation rate, and blood concentrations of glucose, glycerol, and lactate were measured every 20 min. throughout exercise and at exercise termination. Statistical analysis of these dependent variables indicates that (1) an exercise-induced decrease in blood-borne carbohydrate substrate intensifies leg and over-all perceptions of exertion during the later stages of prolonged cycling at 70% VO2peak. (2) Factors other than availability of blood-borne carbohydrate substrate may influence perceptual intensity at exhaustion. (3) Ratings of perceived exertion for the legs and over-all body obtained after 2 hr. of cycling at moderate intensity may be useful in predicting submaximal endurance performance.
The Ross-Konno Is a High-Risk Procedure When Compared With the Ross Operation in Children

Background For children who require aortic valve replacement, the pulmonary autograft (Ross procedure) may be the ideal substitute. However, performing a modified Konno procedure at the time of autograft implantation (Ross-Konno) may be associated with significant morbidity and mortality. A retrospective study was undertaken to compare the outcomes of Ross-Konno (RK) and the Ross (R) procedures including the need for reinterventions and long-term survival. Methods Between 1993 and 2011, 78 children (mean age, 11.1 ± 5.6 years; range, 1 week to 18 years) underwent the Ross procedure. Modified Konno-type enlargement of the left ventricular outflow tract was performed in 18 of those patients. Results There was no statistically significant difference between the groups with respect to pathologic process, sex, concomitant procedures, and aortic gradient. Our data demonstrate that mean age (R, 12.9 years versus RK, 5.3 years; p Conclusions The risk of death and postoperative complications after the Ross-Konno procedure is higher than for the Ross procedure. Preoperative complexity (including mitral valve anomalies) is associated with significantly higher morbidity and mortality. Autograft insufficiency and right ventricular outflow tract obstruction are common postoperative complications, requiring reoperation in one quarter of patients, but these were not significantly different between the groups.
Preliminary visual field preservation after staged CyberKnife radiosurgery for perioptic lesions.

OBJECTIVE: The limited radiation tolerance of the optic nerves and the optic chiasm makes it a challenge to treat immediately adjacent lesions with radiosurgery. Staged or hypofractionaled radiosurgery has the virtue of combining the accuracy and conformality of radiosurgery with the normal tissue sparing benefits of fractionation. We describe a consecurtive series of patients with meningiomas and pituitary adenomas abutting the anterior visual pathways who were treated with staged, image-guided radiosurgery. METHODS. Thirty-four patients with either meningiomas (20 patients) or pituitary adenoma (14 patients) within 2 mm of the optic apparatus were treated. Several patients had previously been treated with conventional fractionated radiotherapy (5 patients) or subtotal surgical resection (23 patients). Radiosurgery was delivered in two to five stages to a cumulative average marginal dose of 20.2 Gy. Visual testing and clinical examinations were performed before treatment and at follow-up intervals beginning at 6 months after treatment. RESULTS: The mean follow-up period was 29 months (range, 15-62 mo). Pre- and posttreatment vision was unchanged in 20 patients, improved in 10, and worser in 3. One patient died during follow-up as a result of an unrelated cardiac event. Visual loss was accompanied by tumor progression in two cases. In a third patient with a multiply recurrent adrenocorticotropic hormone-secreting pituitary adenoma, injury to one otpic nerve occurred after both a prior course of radiotherapy and three separate sessions of radiosurgery. CONCLUSION: Staged radiosurgery resulted in high rates of tumor control and preservation of visul function. Ninety-one percent of patient retained their presurgical vision. Staged radiosurgery may be a safe and effective alternative to either surgery or fractionated radiotherapy for selected lesions adjacent to the optica apparatus.
Trafficking of the Ca2+-activated K+ channel, hIK1, is dependent upon a C-terminal leucine zipper.

We demonstrate that the C-terminal truncation of hIK1 results in a loss of functional channels. This could be caused by either (i) a failure of the channel to traffic to the plasma membrane or (ii) the expression of non-functional channels. To delineate among these possibilities, a hemagglutinin epitope was inserted into the extracellular loop between transmembrane domains S3 and S4. Surface expression and channel function were measured by immunofluorescence, cell surface immunoprecipitation, and whole-cell patch clamp techniques. Although deletion of the last 14 amino acids of hIK1 (L414STOP) had no effect on plasma membrane expression and function, deletion of the last 26 amino acids (K402STOP) resulted in a complete loss of membrane expression. Mutation of the leucine heptad repeat ending at Leu406 (L399A/L406A) completely abrogated membrane localization. Additional mutations within the heptad repeat (L385A/L392A, L392A/L406A) or of the a positions (I396A/L403A) resulted in a near-complete loss of membrane-localized channel. In contrast, mutating individual leucines did not compromise channel trafficking or function. Both membrane localization and function of L399A/L406A could be partially restored by incubation at 27 °C. Co-immunoprecipitation studies demonstrated that leucine zipper mutations do not compromise multimer formation. In contrast, we demonstrated that the leucine zipper region of hIK1 is capable of co-assembly and that this is dependent upon an intact leucine zipper. Finally, this leucine zipper is conserved in another member of the gene family, SK3. However, mutation of the leucine zipper in SK3 had no effect on plasma membrane localization or function. In conclusion, we demonstrate that the C-terminal leucine zipper is critical to facilitate correct folding and plasma membrane trafficking of hIK1, whereas this function is not conserved in other gene family members.
Economic rupture as political Rorschach: Paradigmatic aspects of the East Asian crisis

Summary The paradigmatic significance of the East Asian crisis can be examined on the two major models used to analyse post‐Cold War politics: Fukuyama's ‘End of History’ paradigm and Huntington's ‘Clash of Civilizations’ theory. Comparable to a Rorschach test in which a splotch of ink can be interpreted in many different ways, the crisis’ overall effect in auguring the evolution of political systems has been anything but clear. While the recent events in the region seem to lend more support to Fukuyama's thesis that the twin forces of democracy and capitalism, acting in conjunction to promote growth, will triumph across the region, it would appear that good governance as opposed simply to multiparty politics is the real key to resolving East Asia's crisis. Ultimately, the increasing interconnection of global economies resists any simple diagnosis of the origins or remedies of such crises.
The Pancreas Club, Inc.: fellowship and shared interests.

In 1966 the medical and surgical environment was inhospitable to the study of the exocrine pancreas. There were few, if any, surgical department chairmen in the United States who had as their primary interest the study of pancreatic disease. Themajority of surgical department chairmen were general surgeons whose research focus was the study of portal hypertension, biliary, or peptic ulcer disease. NIH funding for diseases of the exocrine pancreas had a low priority due, in part, to the fact that these same surgeons weremembers of theNIHadvisory committees.Most surgical departments had several faculty whose primary interests were the study of liver, biliary, or peptic ulcer disease. Only the occasional surgical department had even one faculty member whose major interest was pancreatic exocrine disease. In the absence of surgical faculty mentors having an interest in pancreatic disease, most surgical trainees seeking a career in academic surgery could read the “tea leaves.” The majority of young surgeons followed the path of least resistance, pursuing the studies available in the existing faculty. In doing so, they were likely to receive the approbation of their older colleagues as well as research funding.Those fewsurgeonschoosing to study diseases of the exocrine pancreas were, as Robert Frost wrote, following the “...road less traveled...” (Robert Frost, The Road Not Taken, 1915). Usually one of a kind at their institution, they longed for the opportunity to share their ideas, insights, and to receive praise and criticism from others sharing similar interests in the exocrine pancreas. Compounding their professional isolation was the absence of a national forum devoted to the study of pancreatic physiology and disease. The absence of a national forum for the study of the pancreas not only hindered communication and interaction among pancreatologists, but also made it difficult for them to find a venue to present their work. The Pancreas Club was borne out of the need of its members to share ideas with other colleagues having similar interests. For these few professionally isolated and lonely pancreatologists, participation in the Pancreas Club was profoundly meaningful. Shared appreciation and interests experienced at the annual meeting created
On the measurement of energy dissipation using nanoindentation and the continuous stiffness measurement technique

New experimental methods have been developed to optimize the accuracy and precision of the measured phase angle in nanoindentation experiments on viscoelastic materials performed with a Berkovich indenter. Measurements conducted in fused silica and sapphire form the basis of a new instrument calibration. Experimental verification of the new calibration and an enhanced test method is demonstrated in polycarbonate (PC) and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). In comparison to the standard continuous stiffness measurement (CSM) technique, the new calibration and test method reduces the measurement error in the phase angle of PC from 1900% to 10% and from 135% to 10% in PMMA. Scatter in phase angle measured by the new test method is nearly 10 times less than the level observed using the standard CSM technique. The effect of time dependent deformation on the measured phase angle is also documented. The experimental observations and results are applicable to a variety of dynamic nanoindentation test methods.
Mediating factors in the relationship between life stress and suicide attempting.

The present study examined male suicide attempters and a control population of psychiatric patients in an effort to determine the importance of life stress and locus of control as factors in suicide attempting. The parasuicide group was found to be younger, less psychotic, and more depressed than the psychiatric group. Age was found to mediate the relationship between stress and suicide attempts; among older subjects, stress was greater in the attempt group than in the control group, but no difference in stress levels was found for younger subjects. With respect to locus of control, the results indicated that suicide attempters did not differ from psychiatric patients on degree of externality, although a relationship between stress and parasuicide was found for those individuals identified as congruent externals. Language: en
A VNIR/SWIR atmospheric correction algorithm for hyperspectral imagery with adjacency effect

Abstract Radiometrically calibrated hyperspectral imagery contains information relating to the material properties of a surface target and the atmospheric layers between the surface target and the sensor. All atmospheric layers contain well-mixed molecular gases, aerosol particles, and water vapor, and information about these constituents may be extracted from hyperspectral imagery by using specially designed algorithms. This research describes a total sensor radiance-to-ground reflectance inversion program. An equivalent surface-pressure depth can be extracted using the Non-Linear Least-Squares Spectral Fit (NLLSSF) technique on the 760-nm oxygen band. Two different methods, the Atmospheric Pre-Corrected Differential Absorption (APDA) and NLLSSF, can be used to derive total columnar water vapor using the radiative transfer model MODTRAN 4.0. Atmospheric visibility can be derived via the NLLSSF technique from the 400–700-nm bands or using an approach that uses the upwelled radiance fit from the Regression Intersection Method from 550 to 700 nm. A new numerical approximation technique is also introduced to calculate the effect of the target surround on the sensor-received radiance. The recovered spectral reflectances for each technique are compared to reflectance panels with well-characterized ground truth.
Determination of amino sugars in synthetic glycopeptides during the conditions of amino acid analysis utilizing precolumn derivatization and high-performance liquid chromatographic analysis

Abstract The growing number of synthetic glycopeptides required an in-house method for the analysis of the final products. A reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic protocol was developed to verify the presence of N-acetylglucosamine and N-acetylgalactosamine in synthetic glycopeptides after hydrolysis and derivatization with 4-dimethylaminoazobenzene-4′- sulphonyl chloride. Different sugar and glycoamino acid standards were used to separate the two carbohydrate moieties, and the location of the derivatized 2-aminoglucose was established by the use of radiolabeled sugar. The utility of the approach is demonstrated by the amino acid analysis of N- and O-glycosylated synthetic peptides and the method could provide an alternative for sugar analysis of glycoproteins.
Effective thermoelastic properties of graded doublyperiodic particulate matrix composites in varying externalstress fields

Abstract We consider a linear elastic composite medium, which consists of a homogeneousmatrix containing aligned ellipsoidal uncoated or coated inclusions arranged in a doubly periodicarray and subjected to inhomogeneous boundary conditions. The hypothesis of effective fieldhomogeneity near the inclusions is used. The general integral equation obtained reduces theanalysis of infinite number of inclusion problems to the analysis of a finite number of inclusions insome representative volume element (RVE) . The integral equation is solved by a modifiedversion of the Neumann series; the fast convergence of this method is demonstrated for concreteexamples. The nonlocal macroscopic constitutive equation relating the cell averages of stress andstrain is derived in explicit iterative form of an integral equation. A doubly periodic inclusion fieldin a finite ply subjected to a stress gradient along the functionally graded direction is considered.The stresses averaged over the cell are explicitly represented as functions of the boundaryconditions. Finally, the employed of proposed explicit relations for numerical simulations oftensors describing the local and nonlocal effective elastic properties of finite inclusion pliescontaining a simple cubic lattice of rigid inclusions and voids are considered. The local andnonlocal parts of average strains are estimated for inclusion plies of different thickness. Theboundary layers and scale effects for effective local and nonlocal effective properties as well as foraverage stresses will be revealed.
Free colon transfer for pharyngo-oesophageal reconstruction

This report describes free transfer of transverse colon for reconstruction of the hypopharynx and cervical oesophagus. The transverse colon based on the middle colic vessels was used in three patients following laryngo-pharyngo-oesophagectomy for hypopharyngeal squamous carcinoma. There were no flap failures or intra-abdominal complications. Solid diet was well tolerated. Transverse colon is easy to harvest, has a long vascular pedicle, wide diameter and good ischaemic tolerance. Contrast studies showed it to be a wide bore passive conduit. Compared with currently available options these features may allow better outcome in pharyngo-oesophageal reconstruction and warrant further evaluation.
Oxytocin Activates the Inositol-Phospholipid-Protein Kinase-C System and Stimulates Prostaglandin Production in Human Amnion Cells*

It has been postulated that fetal hormonal signals act upon amnion to trigger labor via prostaglandin (PG) production. Human amnion epithelial cell cultures were established to test the effects of potential activators of the inositol phospholipid-protein kinase-C effector system on intracellular inositol phosphate turnover, intracellular free calcium ([ Ca2+]i), and PGE2 production. Oxytocin provoked 3-, 2.5-, and 4-fold increases in inositol triphosphate, inositol bisphosphate, and inositol monophosphate, respectively. [Ca2+]i, measured with the fluorescent dye fura-2, was stimulated by oxytocin and vasopressin (oxytocin greater than vasopressin) in a dose-dependent manner. The [Ca2+]i transient produced by oxytocin reached a peak in 15 sec, followed by a slow return to baseline over 10 min. Preincubation with phorbol 12-myristate-13 acetate (PMA) markedly blunted the oxytocin-induced transient. No [Ca2+]i transient was seen with leukotrienes, PG, serotonin, angiotensin, or alpha- or beta-adrenergic agents. PGE2 production increased 30- to 50-fold with phospholipase-C and PMA, and 10-fold with the calcium ionophore A23187. Oxytocin and vasopressin produced 10- and 3-fold PGE2 increases, respectively. Increased PGE2 production induced by PMA, oxytocin, and A23187 was first seen after 8 hr of incubation and reached maximal levels at 24 h. Minimal PGE2 stimulation occurred with agents that produced no [Ca2+]i transient. Direct activators of the inositol phospholipid-protein kinase-C system in human amnion induce large increases in PGE2 in human amnion cells. Oxytocin and vasopressin are hormonal activators of this system in these cells, as demonstrated by their effects on inositol phosphate turnover and [Ca2+]i. These hormones also increase PGE2 production and may influence labor by stimulating PGE2 production in amnion through the inositol phospholipid-protein kinase-C system.
Twenty-first century law: Supreme court ruling supports right to suicide

Abstract The following article on suicide portrays one possible future scenario as a logical extension of present social and legal pressures concerning individual rights. Other factors could arise in the next thirty years which could moderate or change the direction entirely of the trends described herein. It is offered, therefore, as a heuristic device and not necessarily as a clairvoyant description. This article is printed “with permission” from the East Coast Monitor Monthly. Dated May 15, 2010, the article reports on the events, background, and possible impact of the Supreme Court ruling on Morton vs. Secretary, a ruling which could be interpreted by many to give full and legal permission to suicide.
Some esthetic factors in a smile

A survey of the characteristics of an open smile was conducted with 454 full-face photographs of randomly selected dental and dental hygiene students. Findings show that an average smile exhibits approximately the full length of the maxillary anterior teeth, has the incisal curve of the teeth parallel to the inner curvature of the lower lip, has the incisal curve of the maxillary anterior teeth touching slightly or missing slightly the lower lip, and displays the six upper anterior teeth and premolars. Consideration of the characteristics may be useful in improving the esthetics of restorations.
Tourism shopping in rural markets: a case study in rural Iowa.

Purpose – This study aims to focus on the unique challenges of retail service delivery in rural tourism markets. This paper specifically seeks to address: factors attracting individuals to a rural tourism community; factors motivating resident and tourist customers to engage in tourism shopping; satisfaction of resident and tourist customers with local retailers; and strategies to assist retailers in successful service delivery.Design/methodology/approach – Using Dillman's survey techniques, data were collected from two different groups: resident customers and tourist customers in a rural Iowa tourism community. Given the study's exploratory focus, a case study methodology was selected.Findings – Shopping experiences were much less satisfying for resident customers than for tourist customers in this study. Tourism retailers may not be effectively differentiating their customer service and providing adequate attention during the shopping experience, particularly to resident customers.Research limitations/i...
R-Axion: A New LHC Physics Signature Involving Muon Pairs

In a class of models with gauge mediated supersymmetry breaking, the existence of a light pseudo scalar particle, R-axion, with a mass in hundreds MeV range is predicted. The striking feature of such a light R-axion is that it mainly decays into a pair of muons and leaves a displaced vertex inside detectors once it is produced. In this talk, we show how we can search for the R-axion at the coming LHC experiments. The one main goal of the LHC experiments is discovering supersymmetry which has been anticipated for a long time to solve the hierarchy problem. Once the supersymmetric standard model (SSM) is confirmed experimentally, the next question is how the supersymmetry is broken and how the effects of symmetry breaking are mediated to the SSM sector. In most cases, such investigations on 'beyond the SSM physics' rely on arguments based on extrapolations of the observed supersymmetry mass parameters to higher energies. However, there is one class of models of supersymmetry breaking where we can get a direct glimpse of the structure of the hidden sector with the help of the R-symmetry. The R-symmetry plays an important role in rather generic models of spontaneous supersymmetry breaking. At themore » same time, however, it must be broken in some way in order for the gauginos in the SSM sector to have non-vanishing masses. One possibility of the gaugino mass generation is to consider models where the gaugino masses are generated as a result of the explicit breaking of the R-symmetries. Unfortunately, in those models, the R-symmetry leaves little trace for the collider experiments, since the mass of the R-axion is typically heavy and beyond the reach of the LHC experiments. In this talk, instead, we consider a class of models with gauge mediation where the R-symmetry in the hidden/messenger sectors is exact in the limit of the infinite reduced Planck scale, i.e. M{sub PL} {yields} {infinity}. In this case, the gaugino masses are generated only after the R-symmetry is broken spontaneously. We also assume that the R-symmetry is respected by the SSM sector as well as the origin of the higgsino mass {mu} and the Higgs mass mixing B{mu} at the classical level. We call this scenario, the minimal R-symmetry breaking scenario.« less
Status and Future Plans for the Mark II Detector at SLAC

In this brief talk, I want to report to you on three subjects. First, I want to tell you about the present status of PEP, where there has been a very large increase in the luminosity in the past five months. Next, I want to tell you a little about the present status of the Mark II detector, whose secondary vertex detector constitutes a very important part of the physics which our collaboration is doing at PEP. Finally, I want to review for you the design of the upgraded Mark II Detector which will be used at the Stanford Linear Collider (SLC).
Effect of Subcutaneously Released 24F-1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 on Incidence of Parturient Paresis in Dairy Cows

Abstract Twenty-one aged Jersey cows were fed a high calcium diet prior to parturition to predispose them to parturient paresis. Eleven cows were implanted subcutaneously with pellets containing 24F-1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 3 7 d before the expected date of parturition and thereafter at 7-d intervals until parturition. Ten cows were left untreated to serve as controls. Incidence of parturient paresis among control animals was 80% (8/10). Treatment reduced the incidence of parturient paresis to 9% (1/11). The mean observed plasma calcium concentration nadir of implanted cows was 6.61±.40 mg/dl, which was significantly greater than the plasma calcium nadir of 4.45±.39 mg/dl observed in the control cows. Two steers were implanted with and three nonpregnant, nonlactating cows received intramuscular injections of 24F-1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D 3 to contrast circulating plasma concentrations achieved by the two routes. Intramuscular injection and implantation resulted in plasma 24F-1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D 3 concentrations above 300 pg/ml for the first 48h after administration. From d 4 until d 11 after administration, plasma concentration was maintained between 164 and 89 pg/ml in the implanted steers. Plasma concentration was undetectable 7 d after an intramuscular injection. These data indicate that, with refinement, sustained release of 24F-1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D 3 can be successfully used to reduce the incidence of parturient paresis
The problems of using ROC curve as the sole criterion in positive biometrics identification

Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve is widely used in biometric identification. It is a plot of the detection power virus false alarm rate. It is an objective measure of accuracy. Positive biometrics identification is one-to-many match. ROC curve has been served as a "golden" criterion in measuring the accuracy of biometrics system for positive biometric identification. However, in this paper, we will analyze the problems of using ROC curve as the sole criterion in positive biometrics identification. From the view of detection and estimation theory, ROC curve only took concerns of system variance, and would not be able to detect the system bias, which could give wrong conclusion in evaluating system accuracy across multiple databases. ROC curve does not reflect the cost function, the database size, the quality of the image, and many other factors that are important in system performance and accuracy. We will use iris recognition as an example to discuss these issues. At the end, we will discuss some possible solutions to solve these problems.
Variation in quartz arenite deformation mechanisms between a roof sequence and duplexes

Abstract Microstructural abundances and histories in quartz arenite of the Lower Silurian Tuscarora Sandstone were used to determine the nature and role of microscale deformation in a cover sequence and underlying thrust system, and to assess the degree to which the cover sequence accommodated emplacement of the thrust system. Sandstone samples are located across the transition from the central to southern Appalachian foreland thrust system where the thrusts change from blind to emergent southwards and where southern deformation of early Alleghanian age has been previously shown to be overprinted by central deformation of Alleghanian age. Microstructures observed with transmitted light and cathodoluminescence microscopy indicate that grain-scale deformation occurred by dislocation flow, pressure solution, and microfracturing, with the last being generally the most important. The sequence of deformation mechanisms is the same for the cover sequence and the thrust system: pressure solution during sedimentary compaction; dislocation flow during layer-parallel shortening; and localized microfracturing with limited pressure solution near major thrust ramps and in steep fold limbs. A greater abundance of dislocation flow microstructures in the cover sequence from layer-parallel shortening indicates grain-scale accommodation in the Tuscarora Sandstone of some shortening associated with emplacement of the thrust system. The transition zone between the central and southern Appalachians contains the greatest occurrence of every microstructure which is consistent with the area having been affected by diachronous central and southern Alleghanian deformations.
GEOGRAPHIC AFFINITIES OF THE NORTH AMERICAN MECOPTERA

Mecoptera of the Nearctic Region are, in general, more like those of the eastern Palaearctic than of any other faunal region. But the fossil record shows that our major extant genera have been in the northern continents since Early Cenozoic. Panorpidae and Panorpodidae probably entered North America by way of Beringia in the Eocene or Oligocene. Nearctic Bittacidae probably came from the Neotropical Region, but a few exhibit peculiar affinities with some eastern Asiatic species, suggesting migration out of the Nearctic into the Palaearctic. Boreidae appear to have been of North American origin but are now Holarctic; they are unknown as fossils. The Meropeidae were probably widespread in mid–Mesozoic but now are found only in eastern North America and western Australia.
Mutagenesis Analysis of a Conserved Region Involved in Acetyl Coenzyme A Binding in the Aminoglycoside 6′-N-Acetyltransferase Type Ib Encoded by Plasmid pJHCMW1

Alanine scanning of motif A in the pJHCMW1-encoded aminoglycoside 6′-N-acetyltransferase type Ib identified amino acids important for the ability of the enzyme to confer wild-type levels of resistance to kanamycin and amikacin. The replacement of two amino acids, D117 or L120, with alanine residues resulted in complete loss of the resistance phenotype.